State Government contributes 100 haemodialysis machines

Published on: Saturday, June 14, 2025
Published on: Sat, Jun 14, 2025
By: Diana Liu Text Size: The haemodialysis machines. Kota Kinabalu: The State Government, through the Community Development and People's Wellbeing Ministry (KPMKR), has supplied 100 haemodialysis machines to government hospitals and clinics across the State. The contributions, provided under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 'Sabah Sejahtera' Health Assistance Scheme, was fully funded by the Sabah Government through an allocation approved by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, to improve dialysis treatment access for kidney patients state-wide.
Advertisement The RM8.5 million allocation covers RM4 million for treatment subsidies and RM4.5 million for equipment procurement, aimed at easing the burden of end-stage renal failure (ESRF) patients, especially from low-income groups. State Community Development and People's Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib said the State Government has exempted dialysis patients from treatment fees. 'Patients undergoing home-based treatment or via Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) will receive a monthly assistance of RM100,' he said after the handing over ceremony at Queen Elizabeth Hospital II. Also present were Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Sabah Health Department Director Dr Maria Suleiman and others. As of now, there are 25 government facilities (23 hospitals, two clinics) offering dialysis services in Sabah, with five specialist hospitals also providing CAPD. According to James, the number of ESRF patients in government facilities has increased from 1,831 in 2020 to 2,133 in 2024, necessitating expanded dialysis services. 'Currently, Sabah has 474 haemodialysis machines, but only 435 are functional, while 39 units are damaged. The new machines will help address this gap, improve service quality and replace outdated equipment. 'The new machines are equipped with modern filtration technology, touchscreen interfaces, digital monitoring, energy-efficient systems and come with at least one year of warranty and maintenance service,' he said. James reaffirmed the State's commitment to providing accessible and quality healthcare in line with the aspirations of Malaysia Prihatin and Sabah Maju Jaya. Meanwhile, Dr Dzulkefly said the contribution is timely and critical to meet the increasing need for haemodialysis in Sabah. On another note, Dr Dzulkefly said discussions with the Chief Minister also focused on key issues under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). He said five technical committees have been formed, and detailed plans, recommendations, as well as proposals from the committees have already been presented in meetings and are being seriously considered, with feedback received from his own department. 'Looking ahead, there is also a proposal for an application of nearly RM4 billion for the year 2030. 'We want to carry out a swift and effective catch-up to improve and fill the gaps in service delivery at all hospitals. All of this is very important to ensure that the delivery and treatment of the healthcare system in Sabah can be further improved,' he said. Responding to a question regarding the Putrajaya's proposal to freeze rural allowances for doctors serving in remote areas, Dr Dzulkefly said the matter has been raised and is being taken into serious consideration. He said the issue and related agenda would be brought up for further review and follow-up at the upcoming post-Cabinet meeting. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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