Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, together with the Chairman of Che Hia Khor Moral Uplifting Society Sarawak (CHKMUS), Datuk Seri Tay Chin Kin (right), takes a group photo with staff during her working visit to meet kidney patients at the Che Hia Khor Moral Uplifting Society Sarawak (CHKMUS)-MAAEDICARE Dialysis Charity Centre in Kuching yesterday. Photo: Ghazali Bujang
KUCHING: The Ministry of Women, Childhood, and Community Well-being Development is stepping up its efforts to support kidney patients amid rising cases of renal failure.
Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the state government is committed to providing financial and emotional assistance to those battling kidney disease.
“Dialysis gives a beacon of hope to our patients. It allows them to continue with their lives,” Fatimah said at the Che Hia Khor Moral Uplifting Society Sarawak (CHKMUS)-MAAEDICARE Dialysis Charity Centre on Monday (Jan 27).
She emphasised that the government’s initiatives are not just about funding but ensuring patients live a quality and dignified life.
Fatimah acknowledged that governmental hospitals are struggling to keep up with the demand for dialysis amid the increase in renal failure cases.
She said that while government facilities provide free dialysis, capacity limitations force many patients to seek treatment at private or non-governmental organisations (NGO) run centres.
She said the cost of dialysis at these centres is costly and is a significant burden for low-income families, particularly the B40 and lower M40 groups.
“Dialysis must be done three times a week, 12 times a month.
“This is a routine they must follow, and the financial burden is huge, especially for the B40 and lower M40 groups.
“And if they undergo dialysis, whether at a dialysis centre, an NGO dialysis centre, or a private facility, it will incur significant expenses.
“Installing an AVF (arteriovenous fistula) itself also requires a considerable amount of money,” she said.
The Sarawak government has approved 590 applications for kidney-related financial aid, allocating RM9.9 million to support kidney patients who cannot be accommodated in government facilities.
However, for 2025, the state has added RM4.7 million specifically for kidney patients.
Fatimah also said the state has purchased 36 dialysis machines, distributed to government hospitals and clinics to support kidney patients and ensure that hospitals have new dialysis machines.
“Helping kidney patients is important for us, and helping hospitals acquire new dialysis machines is equally vital.
“Each machine can support at least six patients, with three patients treated in one day and another three the next day.
“There are also facilities that require specific machines exclusively for Hepatitis patients, as these machines cannot be shared with others.
“The government has allocated funds to facilitate the tender process for procuring these machines, and it helps replace old machines that can no longer be repaired, as repeated servicing has proven ineffective,” she said.
Furthermore, she said patients travelling long distances for treatment could apply for an RM50 travel allowance per session to reduce the financial strain on those in rural areas.
Fatimah assured Sarawakians that the government remains committed to supporting kidney patients.
“Even though the cost is high, it has to be done.
“The government stands firmly behind our kidney patients who need help,” she said.
“We want our patients to feel hopeful, live a quality life, and know they are not alone.
“We are here for them,” Fatimah said, reflecting on the broader impact of these programmes.
Link: https://www.sarawaktribune.com/sarawak-ramps-up-support-for-kidney-patients/