SIBU: The Sarawak Government has spent RM6.9mil on 399 end-stage kidney failure patients for dialysis treatments from January 2020 to December 2023.
"This Special Aid for Kidney Patients is an initiative of the Sarawak Government to help ease the burden of kidney patients in Sarawak," said Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah on Friday (March 1) during her visit to the Sibu Kidney Foundation.
The Women, Children and Community Well-being Minister said among the criteria for the aid are that patients must be from the B40 and M40 group, are Sarawakians and have not received any financial assistance from any government agency, private sector or non-governmental organisations.
She said at the programme's start in 2020, a total of 62 recipients received benefits worth RM420,452.
As for haemodialysis machine assistance, she said that in 2023, the Sarawak Social Welfare Department purchased 24 units, at a cost of RM987,600.
These machines were distributed to the Sarawak Heart Centre in Kuching and hospitals in Lundu, Serian, Betong, Saratok, Kanowit, Mukah, Dalat, Sarikei, Bintulu, Limbang, Lawas and health clinics in Debak and Tatau.
