Sarikei Hospital receives two dialysis machines
SIBU: The state government through the Welfare Department recently presented two haemodialysis machines to Sarikei Hospital.
Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the machines, costing RM41,150 each, were additions to the existing facilities meant to benefit patients obtaining treatment at the hospital.
“Sarikei Hospital currently has 16 dialysis machines to cater to the needs of the 209 patients who are undergoing dialysis.
“The Welfare Department had, in 2023, purchased 24 haemodialysis machines worth RM987,600 via tender, and they were placed at 11 hospitals across Sarawak, including one at the Sarawak Heart Centre in Kota Samarahan, and at two other health clinics.
“The placement of these machines was decided based on the needs of the hospitals, as well as after taking into consideration the number of patients undergoing treatment,” she said.
Out of the 11 hospitals, the hospitals in Betong, Bintulu and Mukah each has three machines, the Sarikei and Lundu hospitals each gets each two, and Saratok, Kanowit, Limbang, Lawas, Serian and Dalat hospitals each receives one.
The Sarawak Heart Centre and the Debak Health Clinic each has one dialysis machine, while the Tatau Health Clinic in Bintulu receives two.
Adding on, Fatimah said six haemodialysis machines had been handed over to five health institutions throughout Sarawak in 2021.
She added that the department had approved a total of 399 applications for the ‘Special Assistance for Kidney Patients’ from January 2020 to December last year.
Among those present was Sarikei Hospital director Dr Mohamad Ng Siah Huat.