KUCHING: The Social Security Organisation (Socso) has clarified that claims it has withdrawn its haemodialysis aid are untrue and all eligible contributors nationwide can still access the aid.
In a statement yesterday, Socso deputy chief executive (operations) John Riba Marin explained that the provision of any benefit or aid via a social security system such as Socco is based on the principle of pooling of resources and sharing of risk.
“It must therefore be realised that the benefits provided by the organisation are paid for by the social security fund contributed diligently by all employees in the country.
“Therefore, it is pertinent that the benefits be provided to contributors who rightfully deserve such benefits, and the principle of justice prevails. The Socso Board, in evaluating the dialysis aid, has looked into the eligibility and the sustainability of the social security fund in providing such aid,” he said.
Riba was responding to news reports of political leaders and social activists being caught by surprise by Socso’s decision to restrict the category of contributors eligible for dialysis.
He pointed out that the contribution made is an important criteria to be considered compared to lifetime aid such as dialysis.
“Hence, the new directive is to ensure that the recipient of the dialysis aid meets the minimum qualifying criteria of contribution.
“Such a move would ensure that the recipients are partial to the pooling of resources together with all the employees in the country who are contributors to the social security fund,” he said.
Riba explained Socso is currently the largest provider of dialysis, covering nearly 18,000 patients this year and will continue to receive applications from contributors who require such aid.
The haemodialysis aid is a benevolent facility provided to Socso contributors who suffer from end stage renal failure.
It was first introduced in 1999 to help contributors with financing the cost of dialysis.
“Although the organisation is not legally bound to provide such a facility, the aid was continuously provided in view of the need of contributors requiring haemodialysis. This was a decision beyond the responsibility of the organisation as stipulated by Section 57 of the Employees Social Security Act 1969,” he said.
To further enhance the haemodialysis aid, the organisation had extended the facility by also covering erythropoietin injections, immunosuppressant for kidney transplant recipients, different modalities of peritoneal dialysis, and annual donations of haemodialysis machines to dialysis centres throughout the country, he said.
“The financing of haemodialysis is a national issue that affects all end stage renal patients in the country. It is estimated that the treatment cost will continue to escalate over the years. The solution of this health financing issue must therefore be looked at by all health, welfare, and social organisations in the country rather than a focus on a single entity such as Socso,” he added.
Under the revised conditions, eligibility for free dialysis is now tied to the applicants’ tenure and quantum of Socso contribution.
After the new conditions were made public recently, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) secretary-general J Solomon was quoted as saying that the revised terms of eligibility would impact new contributors and beneficiaries registered under Socso’s Invalidity Pension, Employment Injury, and Invalidity Grant schemes, who suffer from chronic kidney failure.