By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Government is supplying 100 additional haemodialysis machines to hospitals and clinics across the state.
Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib said the initiative is made possible through the Sabah Maju Jaya Health Assistance Scheme, known as SMJ ‘Sabah Sejahtera’.
He said RM8.5 million has been allocated under the scheme—RM4 million for treatment costs and RM4.5 million for the haemodialysis machines.
He said this during the symbolic handover of the machines to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad at Queen Elizabeth Hospital II here.
James said the donation is part of efforts by his ministry to ease the burden of end-stage renal disease (ESRF) patients in Sabah, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds.
He noted that the number of ESRF patients in government facilities across Sabah has increased from 1,831 in 2020 to 2,133 in 2024.
With patient numbers rising yearly, the State Government remains committed to improving treatment services to ensure access to adequate and quality care.
Currently, Sabah has 474 haemodialysis machines. Of these, only 435 are fully functional, while 39 are damaged.
James added that patients using the machines are exempted from paying the RM13 fee.
The government also provides a RM100 subsidy to patients who undergo home-based treatment through the continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) method.
