SIBU: Some RM93 million was incurred for the treatment of end stage renal failure nationwide last year and the amount may balloon to between RM400 million and RM500 million annually by 2020 if the trend continues.
Social Security Organisation (Socso) Health Screening Programme (HSP) medical officer Dr Mohd Faznin said yesterday that the organisation covered 6,700 patients who suffered from end stage kidney failure nationwide.
As such, the implementation of HSP was deemed timely to detect non -communicable diseases such as kidney failure, heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes and to prevent complications.
“It is important to create awareness among workers on the importance of practising healthy lifestyles to keep diseases at bay,” Dr Mohd told reporters after a briefing on HSP to some 35 private medical practitioners from Sibu, Kapit and Sarikei.
“With HSP, we hope to reduce the number of cases through early detection and applying control measures to prevent the complications from diseases.
“Our concern is on hypertension, diabetes, end stage renal failure and heart diseases.”
To a question, he cautioned that those aged 40 years and above are prone to non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and end stage renal failure.
He further cautioned that if hypertension and diabetes were not controlled, it could lead to kidney complications, necessitating haemodialysis.
Asked on the HSP vouchers given to all workers who are 40 years and above and active contributors to the organisation, Dr Mohd said it could be used immediately.
“It is absolutely free of charge where workers need not pay a single sen for the health screening.
“They should make full use of the opportunity to check on the status of their health.”
He, however, said for further investigation and treatment, workers would need to bear the expenses on their own, adding that this was a one-off programme.
To do the health screening, he said workers need to go to the panel of doctors registered with Socso.
Asked on the amount of the voucher, he said it was not stated to prevent abuse.