Mawar Haemodialysis Centres Bleeding Cash

A petition to “save haemodialysis patients” has received 1,500 signatures since it was launched a week ago.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 — Thirteen Mawar haemodialysis centres that treat over 500 kidney patients are facing financial problems after the Health Ministry shut down its headquarters.

The Star Online reported a “Save The Haemodialysis Patients Committee”, headed by MCA civil society bureau chairman Ng Kian Nam, as saying that the licenses of five of the centres have expired, while the Rantau centre’s license will expire by the end of July.

“Our main concern is the patients who are from the lower-income group,” Ng was quoted saying.

“We do not know what plans the ministry has for the 500 over patients from the centres. The uncertainty has put the patients and their families under severe stress.”

A hawker from Rantau, Negri Sembilan, was quoted saying that haemodialysis in Mawar was cheaper than in private hospitals.

A petition to “save haemodialysis patients” has reportedly received 1,500 signatures since it was launched a week ago.

The Health Ministry ordered Mawar Medical Centre in Seremban, Negri Sembilan, last February to cease operations after revoking its license last December 14 when all of its medical specialists quit on November 1 with 24-hour notice, except one who gave one month’s notice.

Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said separately that the government spent about RM2.2 billion annually on haemodialysis treatments.

“The government has to cough out RM44,000 a year for a kidney patient to undergo haemodialysis treatment three times a week,” Bernama quoted Dzulkefly as saying in Seremban yesterday.

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