Sabah govt deploys 100 dialysis machines under RM8.5M SMJ aid
Published on: Thu, Jun 12, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah state government, through the Ministry of Community Development and People's Wellbeing (KPMKR), has supplied 100 additional hemodialysis machines to government hospitals and clinics across the state under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 'Sabah Sejahtera' Health Assistance Scheme. The symbolic handover was officiated today by State Health Exco and KPMKR Minister Datuk James Ratib at Queen Elizabeth Hospital II today.
Advertisement The RM8.5 million allocation under the scheme 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. James highlighted that 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 hemodialysis 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 The new machines will help address this gap, improve service quality, and replace outdated equipment. In addition, patients undergoing dialysis at government facilities are exempt from the RM13 fee, while those on home dialysis (CAPD) receive a RM100 monthly subsidy. There are 25 government facilities (23 hospitals, 2 clinics) offering dialysis services in Sabah, with 5 specialist hospitals also providing Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD). 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. James reaffirmed the state's commitment to providing accessible and quality healthcare in line with the aspirations of Malaysia Prihatin and Sabah Maju Jaya. * 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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