By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH – The proposal to establish additional dialysis centres in the country is poised to alleviate the financial burden of acquiring dialysis machines while aiding contributors of the Social Security Organization (Perkeso) who suffer from kidney ailments.
The Minister of Human Resources, V Sivakumar, revealed that Perkeso expends approximately RM350 million annually on kidney disease treatment costs.
“Every year, Perkeso allocates 2.8 million for the purchase of dialysis machines. In this year alone, 70 machines have been distributed to NGOs nationwide.
“We have engaged in discussions with the Chief Executive Officer of the Perkeso Group, Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed, and preliminary work is underway to establish a dialysis centre in Perak.
“We plan to announce this proposal in January or February of next year, as it is still in its early stages of discussion to determine the suitable location for the new dialysis centre,” he stated during a press conference at the Perkeso 2023 Deepavali Celebration in Ipoh yesterday.
Furthermore, as of October 2023, Perkeso has expended nearly RM46.84 million to provide 1,171 units of hemodialysis machines since the introduction of dialysis treatment by the leading social security agency in 1998.
Meanwhile, Sivakumar also presented three hemodialysis machines donated by Perkeso to meet the needs of chronic kidney patients.
Two of the hemodialysis machines were donated to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) – Perak Moral Education Dialysis Foundation, while the remaining unit was donated to the Woh Peng Cheang Seah Moral Upliftment Association.
