KUALA LUMPUR – The number of kidney patients requiring haemodialysis treatment, which has been on the rise over the past 10 years, has prompted Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to set up another centre for such treatment in the capital city.
The Yayasan Al-Sultan Abdullah (YASA) Haemodialysis Centre in Setiawangsa is the second to be set up in Kuala Lumpur after the first in Cheras in August last year.
Al-Sultan Abdullah said he was aware of the need to provide haemodialysis services to underprivileged kidney patients, especially among the B40 and M40 groups.
“I’m deeply concerned about the wellbeing of chronic kidney patients who could not afford the haemodialysis treatment.
“These are the factors that prompted me and the Queen, as well as our children, to set up haemodialysis centres to help alleviate the financial burden of the patients,” the King told reporters after gracing the opening of the Setiawangsa YASA Haemodialysis Centre here today.
Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and their princess, Tengku Puteri Raja Tengku Puteri Ilisha Ameera, were in attendance.
Also present was Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.
According to the 2018 National Renal Registry statistics, there more than 45,000 kidney patients requiring haemodialysis treatment in the country with an estimated of 8,000 new patients registered every year.
The new centre, which is equipped with 12 haemodialysis machines, offers the treatment to the underprivileged patients with the cost being borne by YASA (formerly known as Yayasan Istana Abdul Aziz), or sponsorships or subsidy by the government, non-governmental organisations, patient’s employer.
“Patients at YASA haemodialysis centres do not have to pay for the cost for their treatment and this will definitely help reduce their financial burden,” His Majesty said.
Normally, haemodialysis treatment will cost RM150 per visit.
Al-Sultan Abdullah said two more YASA haemodialysis centres will be set up in Raub and Pekan, Pahang, slated for the end of this year and in the first quarter next year, respectively.
His Majesty said the selection of the two locations was made based on the demographic factor and recommendations from the Ministry of Health apart from aiming to help rural patients who had to travel long distances to seek treatment due to the limited number of such centres.
In fact, in a bid to address the issue of the limited number of haemodialysis centre in the country, the King said he targets to have two haemodialysis centres opened each year.
While expressing his greatest appreciation to the Ministry of Health, Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council, public agencies, private sector and generous donors who helped in the YASA Haemodialysis Centre initiative, Al-Sultan Abdullah also called on more individuals and private companies to help kidney patients in getting the treatment, especially during this difficult times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
His Majesty also advised the people to adopt a healthy lifestyle, to control their diet and to avoid consumption of products harm to kidneys.
“Appreciate our health. Be mindful of what we eat and exercise a lot. Avoid carbonated drinks. And to all kidney patients, I pray that they will be blessed with great strength and patience because it (having renal problems) is not easy, is challenging, risky and could trigger other health complications,” he added.
— BERNAMA
