KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 — Imagine a father supporting his family of five when sudden kidney failure strikes. With no dialysis chairs available and sessions costing up to RM250 each, his health deteriorates rapidly.
This is the stark reality for over 51,000 Malaysians on dialysis today, according to the National Renal Registry and the Ministry of Health (MOH), with approximately 10,000 new cases annually — 80 per cent driven by diabetes and hypertension — and nearly 50 per cent of patients unable to work after one year.
In light of this, Maaedicare Charitable Foundation is tackling this crisis head on by subsidising dialysis treatment for 100 new, low-income Malaysian patients from B40 households. The initiative will run from February 2026.
Anne Rajasaikaran, Chief Executive Officer of Maaedicare Charitable Foundation, said kidney failure doesn’t just attack the body — it tears families apart when money runs dry.
“We’ve seen mothers skip dialysis to feed their children and fathers lose everything as poisons build up. We are offering 100 new patients, an immediate lifeline.
“They will receive 14 dialysis sessions monthly for a year at subsidised amounts, based on their household income levels, at our 11 Maaedicare Charity Dialysis Centres across the country. All they have to do is contact us via WhatsApp.
“While the government support sustains long-term patients, new patients face long waits, high private costs (RM250+/session), and job losses.
“With our programme, Maaedicare steps in where the system cracks, giving new patients immediate access so no Malaysian family chooses between survival and their next meal,’’ she said.
Anne also warned of the stakes and highlighted early intervention’s impact.
“Based on the 2018 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), 15.5 per cent of Malaysian adults — roughly five million people — live with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
“A Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) led study published in PLOS ONE in 2024 found that nearly half of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease in Malaysia are unemployed due to the disease’s burden.
“Meanwhile, the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) dialysis spending surged 274-fold, from RM1.22 million in 1999 to RM334.67 million in 2022, according to the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy.
“Additionally, MOH officials noted that 30 per cent of kidney failure patients in the country are under the age of 45. This trend is driven largely by the rising rates of early-onset diabetes and hypertension.
“That’s why our subsidy programme bridges this life-or-death gap,” she emphasised.
Maaedicare invites partners to collaborate on nutrition guidance, cardiac screenings, and counselling. Families needing assistance and more information, may reach out to the Maaedicare team via WhatsApp at 010-2431830.
This press release was provided by Maaedicare Charitable Foundation.
