By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 18: The Sarawak government has spent RM99.5 million under the Senior Citizen Health Benefit (SCHB) programme since its implementation in July 2024, benefiting 233,389 active recipients as of July 31 this year.
Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the figures underscore the significant impact of the State-funded healthcare initiative in enhancing access to healthcare services for senior citizens throughout Sarawak.
Speaking at the appointment ceremony for SCHB panel clinics at Wisma Kebajikan today, she said 67,487 of the active beneficiaries are senior citizens receiving monthly assistance from the Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS).
“The Sarawak government remains committed to ensuring that senior citizens can access essential healthcare services without financial barriers,” she said in her text speech.
The SCHB provides eligible senior citizens with cashless outpatient medical and dental treatment of up to RM500 annually at participating panel clinics.
Since its implementation, the programme has grown steadily, with 270 active panel clinics statewide providing services under the scheme as of July 2026.
The benefit covers treatment for common ailments such as fever, cough, flu and stomach pain, as well as dental services including tooth extractions, fillings, dentures and dental scaling.
In addition, beneficiaries are entitled to a range of health screening services, including vision and hearing assessments, blood sugar and cholesterol tests, kidney, liver and thyroid function screenings, as well as screenings for prostate and cervical cancers.
These services enable senior citizens to detect health issues early, seek timely treatment and better manage chronic conditions, contributing to improved health outcomes and quality of life.
The SCHB has emerged as one of Sarawak’s flagship social protection initiatives, strengthening the wellbeing of the elderly while promoting healthy, active and independent ageing within communities across the State. — DayakDaily
