Kidney patients receive aid totalling over RM1.5 mln

KUCHING: The Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) has approved 20 out of 31 new applications for the Special Aid for Kidney Patients (BKPBP) as of March 18 this year.

Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said this would amount to an allocation of RM564,100.

“The applications were from Kuching with eight recipients, followed by Sibu; three, while Serian and Sri Aman; two each.”

She was officiating at the Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC) strategic partners appreciation, and presentation of welfare aid ceremony, at Waterfront Hotel here on Monday (March 29).

JKMS also received 62 extension applications in which 44 had been approved as of March 18.

The applications were from Miri with 18, followed by Kuching; 11, and Limbang; four. This involved an allocation of RM978,216.

The BKPBP aid covers clinical assistance, including one-off installation of Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) at a maximum of RM3,000 per patient, and Erythropoietin (EPO) injection at a maximum of RM240 per patient.

It also includes haemodialysis treatment at a maximum of RM200 per patient for every treatment session or RM2,400 per month, and Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) at a maximum of RM2,800 a month if there is no slot for haemodialysis treatment.

The aid also covers supplementary assistance, namely 30 new haemodialysis machines to replace old ones, including adding six new machines for Sarawak Heart Centre, transportation allowance of RM50 for each treatment session with priority for rural patients as well as one-off allowance of RM5,000 for the cost of accommodation and transportation for patients undergoing kidney transplant at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.