THE Health Ministry is resuming its Skim Peduli Kesihatan for the B40 group, Peka B40, in Sarawak following the disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. The ministry hopes to screen for non-communicable diseases (NCD) among those in the bottom 40% household income range.

The programme, which is for early detection of NCDs and early intervention, had only managed to screen 78,241 people or a mere 10% of those who are eligible in Sarawak when the movement control order (MCO) was imposed two years ago, said ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Dr Anas Alam Faizli in Kuching today.

ProtectHealth was established under the ministry, and is the Peka B40 administrator on behalf of the ministry.

Dr Anas said that apart from the MCO, people had been too afraid to go out of their homes for fear of contracting the virus.

In a media briefing in Kuching today to announce the resumption of the health screening programme in Sarawak, Dr Anas said now was a good time to pick up where Peka B40 had left off, as movement restrictions have been eased.

“If people are not afraid of going to the Ramadan bazaar, then surely they would not be afraid of going for the screening,” he said.

ProtectHealth’s target is the remaining 583, 253 people who are eligible in the B40 group.

Dr Anas said early health screening for NCDs is particularly important with the pandemic still ongoing as these diseases pose a risk of serious complications and mortality if those with such conditions get infected with Covid-19.

NCDs include Type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia (excess cholesterol in the bloodstream).

He pointed to findings of the World Heart Federation where NCDs like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes are major risk factors for developing severe symptoms of Covid-19.

“The Covid-19 virus is highly infectious and affects persons with a weakened immune system.”

He said those with NCDs would suffer more serious Covid-19 while the fatality rate among NCD patients is higher.

The bottom line, he said, is that NCDs are the number one killer in the world.

Pointing to the National Strategic Plan for NCD (2016-2025) which states that more than 36 million people die annually from NCDs globally, including 14 million who die before they reached 70, Dr Anas said this was why early health screening is important.

Cost, however, is a barrier to early health screening for those in the B40 group, and Peka B40 was initiated to overcome this.

“They worry about affordability and not knowing the cost of services in advance,” Dr Anas said of those in the low-income group.

“All they have to do is bring their MyKad to the nearest Peka B40 registered clinic. No fees, no registration.”

The first step to qualify for benefits that covers medical equipment that is required in procedures/ treatments not subsidised in MOH hospitals, is to undergo the free screening at any MOH clinics and private clinics registered with Peka B40.

Other benefits include a maximum of RM20,000 for purchasing medical equipment like stents for the heart, artificial joint equipment, hearing aid devices, heart pacemakers, prostheses and implants for the spine, prostheses and orthoses for the limb bones, intraocular lenses, breathing therapy equipment and oxygen concentrator, nutritional support assistance and “advanced” wheelchairs.

Dr Anas said nationwide, more than 5.3 million eligible people have not done the screening yet. – April 6, 2022.