800,000 TO BENEFIT FROM HEALTH SCHEME
PeKa B40 available in stages starting March, says Dzulkefly
ABOUT 800,000 Malaysians aged 50 years and older from the B40 group will benefit from the RM100-million PeKa B40 healthcare scheme to be implemented in stages, beginning March.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the scheme would include health screenings, medical care benefits, incentives to complete cancer treatment as well as transport incentives.
He said recipients of the scheme could check their eligibility for the free health screening via the PeKa B40 website, which would be made available starting March.
“If they qualify, they can visit any clinic, either private or government clinics which are registered as PeKa B40 clinics, with their MyKad. The health screenings will be conducted only during the first visit to the clinic.
“For the health screening, patients will undergo blood, diagnosis, cholesterol, urine and kidney function tests. They will also be checked for mental health, breast cancer and prostate cancer, if needed.”
Dzulkefly said subsequent check-ups and follow-up treatments would be referred to government clinics, if they were diagnosed with any diseases.
“For recipients who do not have any health problems and complications based on the screening, they will be referred to the ‘Sihat Cergas’ programme, a wellness programme under the ministry. This is with the hope of creating a healthy nation.”
He said for medical equipment aid, a maximum of RM20,000 was allocated for patients seeking treatment only at government hospitals.
The ministry would provide stents for heart diseases, artificial joints, hearing aids, intraocular lenses, wheelchairs and oxygen concentrators.
He said for cancer treatment, recipients would be given RM1,000 in phases, based on the stage of treatment, if they completed their treatments at government facilities.
Recipients will be given transport incentives of up to RM500 (Peninsular Malaysia) and RM1,000 (Sabah and Sarawak) yearly for every disease diagnosed.
“This depends on the distance. If they live near a clinic or hospital, then the incentive will be calculated based on the distance they have to travel,” he said.
The PeKa B40 programme was announced in the 2019 Budget with an allocation of RM100 million.
Dzulkefly said RM100 million would benefit 800,000 recipients of the Cost of Living Aid (BSH) 2019, who were in the B40 category.
The scheme does not require any registration as recipients are picked based on the BSH system. However, they will be chosen based on “first come, first served” basis.
“If they qualify for the treatment after the first health screening, they will automatically qualify for the rest of the treatments offered under PeKa B40,” he added.
PeKa B40, a healthcare scheme, is introduced to address the increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the low-income group.
The scheme will be managed by ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd (PHCorp), a governmentowned company established under the Health Ministry.
Dzulkefly said PeKa B40 and mySalam, an insurance and takaful scheme for the B40, launched by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad last week, would work together to help the underprivileged receive medical treatments.
“Both programmes complement each other, where mySalam is for BSH recipients between the age of 18 and 55, and PeKa B40 for those above the age of 50.
“PeKa B40 is more for early detection of NCDs to avoid high costs of medical expenses later if serious disease is diagnosed.
“mySalam is for those who have been diagnosed with one of the 36 critical diseases.”