KUALA LUMPUR: The Government has always been committed to community welfare responsibilities to ensure the people’s well being, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said the Government’s role in improving the health of the people not only emphasised prevention of disease, but offering treatment service that is effective besides promoting a positive health agenda so that the people led prosperous lives.
The issue of health care and treatment is closely related to social development and the economy. A good state of health of the people gives continuity of a good life.
“This in turn contributes to increased productivity and quality as a result of individuals working, in particular, and the country in general,” he said when opening the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Charity Dialysis Centre) in Titiwangsa Friday.
Muhyiddin, who is also the founder of the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Charity Golf Foundation, said based on the report of the Malaysian Registry of Dialysis and Transplants, 26,404 end-stage renal failure patients received haemodialysis treatment last year.
Of the number, 13,159 patients (49.8 percent) received treatment at private dialysis centres; 7,088 (26.9 percent) at non-governmental organisation (NGO) dialysis centres and 6,157 patients (23.3 percent) sought treatment from public facilities under the Health Ministry, university hospitals and Defence Ministry hospitals.
“To meet the high demand for haemodialysis, the Government has approved 150 hemodialysis machines at 68 government hospitals under the 2013 Budget.
Besides that, dialysis treatment is also provided at private and NGO dialysis centres,” he said.
He said Government funding to NGOs was through treatment subsidy, provision of capital grants and aid of erythropoietin injections for less fortunate patients.
“Until now, for 12 years, the government has spent RM215mil on haemodialysis treatment subsidy, RM20mil through capital grants and RM35mil on erythropoietin injections,” he said.
Muhyiddin said last year the government funded RM20mil for haemodialysis treatment subsidy for less fortunate patients at NGO dialysis centres.
He emphasised the foundation will continue to assist and support Government efforts in healthcare and treatment by providing comfortable dialysis centres to those in need.
He was also confident that construction of the TSM Charity Dialysis Centre in Titiwangsa could become an example for dialysis centres planned for Pagoh, Johor Baru and Putrajaya.
The dialysis centre was completed in January 2012 at a cost of RM970,000 through donations received at charity events organised by the TSM Charity Golf Foundation.
Operating since May this year, the centre is equipped with 12 dialysis machines, which can cater to 72 patients daily. A fee of RM30 is imposed for each treatment session.
Construction of the dialysis centre located next to Taman Tasik Titiwangsa was Muhyiddin’s idea to provide treatment to those who are less fortunate. – Bernama
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