SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government will continue the RM800 Tuberculosis (TB) Treatment Incentive this year.
State Public Health and Environment Committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the incentive was aimed at lower-income groups.
"Patients, especially from the B40 group, can obtain consistent treatment till they fully recover," she said in a statement on Monday, adding that Malaysia recorded 26,183 TB cases, with 20% or 55,337 cases in Selangor.
She also stated that incidences of the disease have increased by 2.5% annually since 2020, making the need for continuous and comprehensive intervention even more pressing.
"Cooperation between the state government, the state health department and the Malaysian Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis (MAPTB) bore fruit when the treament success rate rose from 80% in 2020 to 88% in 2024," she said, adding that the state health department focus on detection, treatment and education helped.
Jamilah said initiatives include investing in healthcare technology, such as high-tech ultra-portable X-ray machines.
In addition, the latest laboratory tests and the formulation of child-friendly medication introduced by the Health Ministry also boosted efforts.
"We hope to save more lives and reduce the burden of the disease on communities through approaches using medical innovation," she added. – Bernama
