By Shikin Louis
SERIAN, June 7: Senior citizens categorised under the B40 and M40 groups in Sarawak are entitled to a yearly aid of RM500 under the Senior Citizen Health Benefit (SCHB) initiative beginning July 1.
Sarawak Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK) Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said to apply for the aid, applicants must be Malaysian citizens with a ‘K’ status identity card, are aged 60 and above, have a monthly household income of RM7,000 and below, and does not receive funding for outpatient treatment from any other agencies.
“Before this aid starts in July, we will work with private clinics who will become our panel clinics for this initiative.
“This will allow our senior citizens from the B40 and M40 groups to go to the clinics and get their treatment, and then it (treatment fees) will be deducted from the RM500 assistance given by the government,” she told reporters after the Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC) plaque presentation to PMG Serian here today.
In the case that the eligible applicants have exhausted the RM500 aid, they will have to start paying for their treatments out of their own pockets until the next year’s allocation is banked into their accounts.
She also mentioned that this is part of the Sarawak government’s support services for the senior citizens by giving them an alternative to receive treatment at private clinics rather than facing a long waiting period in government health clinics. — DayakDaily
