Senior citizen thankful haemodialysis treatment borne fully by govt

KUALA NERUS: Kidney patient Muhammad Ibrahim is grateful to the government for benefiting from free haemodialysis treatment provided by various government agencies over the past four years.
The 61-year-old senior citizen is among 111 kidney patients who receive free health care benefits at the three haemodialysis centres managed by the Terengganu state government with the cooperation of various government agencies under the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) at present.
"Pakcik (uncle) is very thankful because otherwise if the haemodialysis treatment is done at a private-owned haemodialysis treatment centre, I must pay RM153,000 during that duration.
"Indeed I'm very grateful because for every four hours of treatment, I should have been charged RM200 per session but it is fully borne by the Terengganu Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (Maidam)," he said when met recently.
Previously the single father had to undergo the treatment thrice weekly at the haemodialysis centre in Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) but shifted to another government-owned haemodialysis centre at Kampung Maras, which was nearer to his home at Tepoh since March last year.

Meanwhile Siti Mariam Musa, 36, could also heave a sigh of relief as her husband Mohamad Rosdan Jusoh, 42, a kidney patient, has been enjoying free treatment since last month.
"Initially I was very worried to know that my husband needs to undergo the treatment three times weekly due to financial constraints but the doctor informed that it was free of charge, courtesy of Maidam," said the mother-of-four, who has to travel a distance of 70km to accompany Mohamad Rosdan.
Siti Mariam was also grateful to receive a financial assistance of RM700 a month from the Welfare Department and said she was in the process of applying for additional aid from Maidam to bear the cost of transportation and to purchase diapers for her husband.
State Health, Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Roslee Daud said the opening of the haemodialysis centre in Kampung Maras was among the pledges in the Barisan Nasional government manifesto during the 13th general election.
Currently there are 25 treatment machines at the three existing haemodialysis centres and the state government will be opening another three at Alor Limbat, Marang; Seberang Takir, Kuala Nerus and Hulu Terengganu.
"The success of the Terengganu BN government to realise this manifesto shows our commitment and sincerity in helping the needy patients, especially those in the rural areas," added Roslee. — Bernama