Bandar Kuching MP welcomes implementation of Peka B40

KUCHING: The implementation of Peka B40 by the Ministry of Health ( MoH), which commenced yesterday, should benefit 3.94 million Malaysians who are eligible for the scheme, which would be expanded in stages.

The health screening programme for the low-income group under the bottom 40 per cent of the population emphasises on early detection of non- communicable diseases (NCDs).

It is fully sponsored by the federal government and is free for recipients of Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) aged 50 and above, together with their spouses.

Specifically, eligible recipients of BSH would automatically be included to the scheme without any registration.

Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii is among those welcoming the implementation of the Peka B40, stating that based on the parliamentary answer by the Minister of Health Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad to his question regarding the matter, the number of BSH recipients aged 50 and above in Sarawak currently stands at 416,582 people.

“For the first phase of the programme where RM100 million is allocated (as at April 9), 84,537 Sarawakians are set to benefit from Peka B40.

“This scheme is transformational in addressing the increasing rates of NCDs in our country and hopefully, through proper prevention and early treatment, such occurrence could be reduced as we build a stronger and healthier society.

“This is in line with the World Health Organisation’s ( WHO) recommendations to treat NCDs, emphasising on the need for prevention,” Dr Yii said in a statement issued yesterday.

According to him, Peka B40 recipients can benefit from four different health packages.

“The first is a health screening where patients can undergo blood test, diagnosis test, cholesterol test, urine test, and kidney functions test. They will also be checked for mental health, breast cancer and prostate cancer, if necessary. Subsequent checkups and follow-up treatments will be referred to government clinics, if they (recipients) are diagnosed with diseases.

“For recipients who do not have any health problem and complication post- screening, they would be referred to ‘Sihat Cergas’ – a wellness programme run under the ministry, in the hope of creating a healthy nation,” he elaborated.

On the second package, Dr Yii said it would cover medical equipment aid, where a maximum of RM20,000 would be allocated for each patient seeking treatment at only government hospitals.