MOH to expand CAPD method for kidney failure patients

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry will expand the Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) for critical stage kidney failure patients.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya (pix) said the method is different from the traditional hemodialysis treatment.
"The CAPD can be done at the patient's home. This method can reduce the need for hemodialysis for new final stage kidney failure patients who needed dialysis treatment before," Hilmi said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to Datuk Hasbullah Osman (Gerik-BN) on efforts made by the Health Ministry to provide a more effective dialysis centre, as well as reduce the medical fees.
Hilmi added currently all public hospitals and 12 health clinics in the country offer dialysis services.
He added the government aims to provide more dialysis services in the country as currently there are about 40,000 people receiving hemodialysis treatment.
"The government also helps less fortunate patients who undergo hemodialysis treatment at dialysis centres owned by NGOs by providing the patients RM50 for each hemodialysis session, as well as an erythropoietin jab," he said.
Hilmi added based on the Malaysian Renal and Transplant Registry 2015, the hemodialysis services are provided by three main suppliers, which is the public sector (32%) private (47%) and NGOs (21%).
He added the government had also allocated RM40 million to help NGO-owned dialysis centres purchase hemodialysis equipment.