Pick up dialysis tab of the poor, NKF urged

The Star

BY LOH FOON FONG

PETALING JAYA: New kidney patients will be given priority for the RM600 monthly subsidy for haemodialysis treatment, the Health Ministry said.

“Our pool of funds is focused towards new patients as they have never had treatment and may require dialysis urgently,” said Health director general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

However, he added, patients already undergoing haemodialysis would not be neglected and would be given assistance as announced in Budget 2014.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced free treatment kits, or Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis costing RM19,000 each for patients with end stage kidney failure to enable them to do the treatment at their own home.

An estimated 5,000 new kidney patients were diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure each year over the last three years, with 26.9% likely to be seeking treatment from 53 NGO centres. On average, half the patients needed subsidy from the Government.

Dr Noor Hisham told The Star that the ministry was reviewing its funding for haemodialysis treatment to make it more cost effective, among other reasons.

“Although our budget allocation increased this year, emoluments are taking up the bulk of it.

“Our development allocation has decreased from RM1.6bil last year to RM1.3bil this year to make way for the emoluments, such as employing more doctors,” he added.