DPM urges dialysis centres operated by NGO to comply with rules

BUKIT MERTAJAM, July 6 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today visited a haemodialysis centre, the Pertubuhan Hemodialisis Seberang Perai Selatan in Simpang Ampat near here.

Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, spent almost an hour visiting the centre and mingling with the staff and patients.

The deputy prime minister in her speech had called on haemodialysis centres established and operated by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to comply with the regulations stipulated by the government including having at least one nephrologist at the centre.

She said this was to avoid any untoward incidents.

"We did not require a specialist in the past, but there was an incident where a centre did not comply with the rules, and there was a lack in service, so we have to tighten the rules for the setting up of a dialysis centre," she said.

Dr Wan Azizah also advised the public to take good care of their health and take preventive measures to avoid kidney diseases which required lifelong treatment.

"What we can do is to prevent from getting the disease. Those who are still healthy, please take good care of your health and don’t reach the level where we have to rely on a machine to take over the functions of our kidneys," she said.

Meanwhile, the founder of the centre, Goh Kheng Huat said this was the second time Dr Wan Azizah visited the haemodialysis centre.

The first time was 20 years ago when she was the Permatang Pauh MP and she was present for the opening ceremony of the centre, he said.

"The centre is already 21 years old and this is the first time a deputy prime minister came to visit," he said.

Goh said the haemodialysis centre, which currently has 46 patients, was set up to help poor and needy patients.

He said the centre needed RM35,000 a month to cover expenses for the treatment.

Currently, it has 2,000 sponsors who contribute RM10 per month, he added.

"Our expenses are too high, we have to spend about RM35,000 per month which includes allowances for a nephrologist, 13 qualified nurses, electricity bills and so on,” he said.

Asked on the treatment rate, Goh said new patients would only have to pay for the medicines.

"We will apply for subsidies from the Ministry of Health, if approved, it (the treatment) will be free of charge," he said.

-- BERNAMA