BUTTERWORTH, Sept 20 — The Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) today opened its sixth dialysis centre in the country and the first in the northern region, to expand services to contributors in need of dialysis treatment.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said that with the operation of the new centre located at the Penang Perkeso office in Seberang Jaya, more 15,000 active contributors who are currently undergoing dialysis nationwide, especially in the northern region, stand to benefit from the social safety net provider.
“The capacity of this dialysis centre is approximately 36 patients per day coupled with the ability to scale up to 70 patients per day if needed and it is also strategically located close to Seberang Jaya Hospital and Bukit Mertajam Hospital as well as private hospitals.
“In total, the six Perkeso dialysis centres, including this latest one, can provide dialysis treatment to 400 to 500 patients per day,” he said after opening the Seberang Jaya Perkeso Dialysis Centre and the presentation of the Self-Protection Sponsorship at the Penang Perkeso Office in Seberang Jaya here today.
The ceremony was also attended by Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Perkeso chairman Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal.
Commenting further, Sim said that among the factors for Perkeso establishing its own dialysis centres was to complete the service ecosystem by facilitating access for contributors to obtain dialysis services, in addition to the 800 dialysis centres operated by a panel of private and non-governmental organisations (NGO).
The Bukit Mertajam Member of Parliament noted that this initiative also reduces the financial burden of contributors as treatment at private dialysis centres can cost up to RM200 per treatment, amounting to RM2,800 for 14 sessions a month, while the Perkeso subsidy is RM2,100, leaving patients to cover up to RM700 per month.
“When they only receive RM150 per month (from Perkeso), it is not enough to cover the costs, but with the Perkeso dialysis centre, patients or contributors who come here do not have to pay anything, it is free,” he said.
Apart from Penang, Perkeso operates five dialysis centres located in Klang and Shah Alam (Selangor), Kluang and Batu Pahat (Johor) and in Kuala Lumpur.
Based on statistics for 2024, Perkeso has allocated RM389.2 million to cover the cost of dialysis treatment for contributors, while in the first eight months of this year, the cost reached RM272.99 million. — Bernama
