KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 — Selangor’s health financial aid scheme Bantuan Sihat Selangor has been expanded to cover chronic patients, including those with cancer and thalassaemia.
Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, in announcing the state budget for 2022 on Friday, said that RM5 million will be allocated under Bantuan Sihat Selangor next year, which is expected to benefit up to 4,000 eligible recipients.
“From 2022, Bantuan Sihat Selangor will be expanded to assist patients with thalassaemia, cancer, and other chronic diseases, as well as provisions that will cover transportation expenses and food supplements in addition to current support given for kidney dialysis, eye cataract surgery, minor surgeries, and medical equipment assistance.
“The state government will also consider applications that require visits from medical officers or bedridden disabled patients under the Bantuan Sihat Selangor programme,” Amirudin told the Selangor state legislative assembly last week.
Amirudin also announced that the state government will replace its Peduli Sihat Insurance Scheme (SIPS) with the Iltizam Selangor Sihat programme for “better health coverage” that will have an allocation of RM46 million and benefit up to 90,000 recipients — 5,000 more compared to the number of recipients in 2021.
“Priority will be given to chronic and bedridden patients. The programme will be improved in terms of recipients’ eligibility and conditions to ensure that all recipients who are eligible will receive these benefits.
“The state government, through the Public Health Standing Committee, will provide further details on this programme in the near future. RM1 million of the Iltizam Selangor Sihat allocation is earmarked for civil servants which will benefit those with Grade 44 and below,” Amirudin said.
He added that Selangor’s Budget 2022 will continue to provide free heart treatment for eligible groups, with an annual allocation of RM5 million that will be funded through the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS).
The state budget is also allocating RM1 million under its Program Kanser Selangor (CanSEL) to assist and encourage residents in Selangor to undergo mammogram, cervical, colorectal, or prostate screening until the cancer is detected.
Meanwhile, to tackle obesity in the state, the Selangor state government will be reactivating Program Slim Selangor next year with an allocation of RM300,000. The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019 found that 50.1 per cent of adults in Malaysia were either overweight or obese.
