By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, June 21: Sarawak Minister for Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK), Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, announced the appointment of 88 clinics as panel clinics for the Senior Citizen Health Benefit (SCHB) assistance programme, commencing July 1.
The 88 panel clinics are divided into the following divisions: 37 from Kuching, five from Samarahan, two from Serian, five from Sri Aman, one from Betong, three from Sarikei, six from Sibu, two from Mukah, one from Kapit, three from Bintulu, 20 from Miri, and three from Limbang.
“Eligible senior citizens under the SCHB programme can now access outpatient medical services at private clinics (general practitioners) for common health issues such as fever, cold, headaches, diarrhoea, vomiting, sprains, minor skin irritations (allergic/itchy), gout, and minor trauma like light wounds.
“Additionally, dental services such as extractions, fillings, and dentures are covered, with a minimum charge for denture making set at RM250. The scope of service for private dental clinics is capped at RM500,” Fatimah told reporters during a press conference held today at the Baitul Makmur II building in Petra Jaya here.
She went on to say that the SCHB programme does not cover follow-up treatments for routine noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension and diabetes, follow-up treatments for chronic diseases, health screenings that require samples to be sent to a laboratory, telemedicine or virtual health care services because patients must physically attend the clinic for consultations and treatment, aesthetic treatments for beauty, or ambulance services.
On June 7, it was reported that senior citizens categorised under the B40 and M40 groups in Sarawak are entitled to a yearly aid of RM500 under the SCHB initiative beginning July 1.
According to Fatimah, applicants for the aid must be Malaysian citizens with a ‘K’ status identity card, over the age of 60, with a monthly household income of RM7,000 or less, and do not receive funding for outpatient treatment from any other agency.
She further highlighted that starting July 1, senior citizens can check their eligibility and the list of participating clinics online through the Sarawak government portal. The system will also allow clinics to verify patient eligibility and submit claims electronically.
The SCHB initiative is set to be officially rolled out on July 22 in conjunction with Sarawak Day in Bintulu.
The SCHB programme is part of a broader effort to support Sarawak’s ageing population, building on previous initiatives like the Kenyalang Gold Card, which provides discounts on various services regardless of income level.
For further information and updates on the SCHB programme, residents are encouraged to visit the Sarawak government portal or contact the Sarawak Welfare Department. — DayakDaily
