ONLY 10.5% or slightly more than 620,000 of the 5.9 million Malaysians in the B40 bracket have utilised the Peka B40 free health screening scheme as of May 31 this year, according to ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd.

In view of the low take-up, the Health Ministry-owned company will be conducting briefings nationwide in collaboration with state health departments to raise awareness on the campaign.

ProtectHealth Corporation chief executive officer Dr Anas Alam Faizli said it was a great challenge to meet the target of getting all the 5.9 million eligible Malaysians screened.

“The Peka B40 scheme was launched in April 2019 but there is still a big gap between the eligible number and the number of those who have utilised the scheme,” he said when briefing reporters at the Millennium Clinic in Labuan today.

He said Perlis, Kedah and Kelantan had recorded the highest screening rate at 17%, followed by Negri Sembilan with 14%, Malacca and Sarawak (13%), Perak (12%), Penang (11%) and Putrajaya (10%).

States with take-up rates below 10% are Terengganu and Sabah (9%), Johor (7%), Pahang (5%), as well as Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Selangor (4%).  

“We should be able to cover Labuan within this year as based on records, 12,631 Malaysians are eligible for the scheme but only 506 have undergone the free health screening.

“In Labuan, we have seven private clinics providing the free health screenings. We hope those eligible would fully utilise this scheme,” he said.

Anas said the benefits offered under the screening scheme include aid to purchase medical equipment of up to RM20,000, cancer treatment completion incentive of RM1,000, and a maximum transport incentive of RM500 in Peninsular Malaysia and RM1,000 in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.

Health screenings can be conducted at health clinics and MOH hospitals and health clinics, and recipients of Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat and their registered spouses are eligible for the scheme.

Anas said health screenings are important for early detection of non-communicable diseases that, if not managed, could lead to an increase in cardiovascular diseases, which would result in higher healthcare costs for individuals and the government. – Bernama, June 7, 2022.