By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 18: A total of 209 panel clinics across Sarawak have been appointed to provide services under the Senior Citizen Health Benefit (SCHB) initiative, ensuring eligible senior citizens continue to enjoy access to cashless healthcare services worth up to RM500 annually.
Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the appointed clinics will serve under the latest appointment period, with 171 clinics receiving two-year contract extensions, 33 clinics granted one-year extensions subject to compliance requirements, and five new clinics approved to join the programme.
“Three clinics are currently under investigation for alleged misconduct and breaches of agreement, with Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) expected to hold discussions with the clinics before a decision is made by the SCHB Technical Committee,” she said in her text speech when speaking during the appointment session for SCHB panel clinics at Wisma Kebajikan today.
Fatimah emphasised that the SCHB initiative was introduced by the Sarawak government to improve healthcare accessibility for senior citizens through outpatient medical and dental services provided on a cashless basis.
“The SCHB enables eligible senior citizens to obtain treatment at appointed panel clinics without having to make upfront payments, subject to an annual limit of RM500 per person,” she said in her speech text.
The benefit covers treatment for common illnesses such as fever, cough, flu and stomach ailments, as well as dental services including tooth extractions, fillings, dentures and dental scaling.
The scheme also provides health screening services covering vision and hearing assessments, blood sugar and cholesterol tests, kidney, liver and thyroid function tests, as well as prostate and cervical cancer screenings.
“The initiative was approved by the Sarawak Cabinet in May 2024 and has been implemented since July that year,” she added.
Fatimah noted that the Ministry, through the Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS), recently held an engagement session with 217 SCHB panel clinics to strengthen understanding of programme management requirements and service delivery responsibilities.
“The appointment and renewal process was carried out based on compliance with eligibility requirements, operational standards and documentation requirements set by the authorities,” she said.
Fatimah said the continued expansion of the panel clinic network reflects the Sarawak government’s commitment to ensuring senior citizens receive timely and affordable healthcare services closer to their communities.
She added that the initiative forms part of the State’s broader efforts to promote healthy, active and dignified ageing among Sarawak’s growing elderly population. — DayakDaily
