21 JUNE 2022, PENANG – ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (ProtectHealth) targets to screen at least 11,818 beneficiaries in Penang, under its programme called Skim Peduli Kesihatan untuk Golongan B40 (Peka B40) for 2022. This target would contribute to the national target this year, which is to screen at least 200,000 beneficiaries under this scheme. This year’s national target is double the total numbers that PeKa B40 achieved in 2021 with 101,673 screenings.
Pursuant to this, ProtectHealth urges those eligible Penangites who are in the bottom 40% income (B40) group, to utilise the PeKa B40 Scheme, enabling them to undergo free health screening and enjoy other health benefits including Health Aid (HA), Completing Cancer Treatment Incentive (CCTI) and Transport Incentive (TI).
ProtectHealth Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Dr. Anas Alam Faizli said in Penang, from 15 April 2019 to 31 May 2021, a total of 39,364 individuals have undergone the free health screening.
“Early detection saves lives, so we encourage all eligible beneficiaries in Penang who are entitled for the PeKa B40 scheme, to visit their nearest clinic and undergo the free health screening. Members of the public may check their eligibility, by keying their IC number on our website at https://kelayakan.pekab40.com.my/semakan-kelayakan, ” he said during PeKa B40 Outreach Programme at Dewan Pusat Kegiatan Masyarakat Valdor, here today, adding that the Outreach programme is part of the current nationwide programme called National Health Screening Initiative (NHSI) targeted to boost the health screening awareness and numbers in Malaysia.
Dato’ Dr. Anas also highlighted that the numbers of beneficiaries screened between 1 January to 31 May last year had increased by 58.3 per cent from 1,573 to 2,490 people, as compared to the corresponding period this year.
“If there’s anything that we can learn from the pandemic is that those with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) faces the most severe consequences from COVID-19. As such, it is very important to screen early and have a mindset change to seeking better health literacy and increasing awareness. Furthermore, now our nation is in the endemicity phase, and there is nothing to prevent Penangites from being screened as all the machinery had been established,” he said.
Currently in Penang, the PeKa B40 scheme is supported by 177 general practitioners, 27 government clinics (Klinik Kesihatan) 8 government hospitals and 15 pathology labs.
Since its inception in 2019, PeKa B40 was designed to focus on early detection of NCD amongst the B40. The PeKa B40 Scheme would minimise beneficiaries from incurring high costs in medical expenses, apart from them becoming more aware of their overall health status.
“Financial constraint is the main factor that hinders B40 families from obtaining appropriate healthcare, the reason why they need to make use of this scheme, and to detect any underlying health issues that they may have.
“Early detection would also mitigate the repercussions of NCDs, affecting the quality of life of individuals. The growing trend of NCDs has caused a negative impact on the economic growth of the nation. Hence, we have been embarking on a series of engagements and outreaches throughout the country, to spread the awareness of PeKa B40 and making the programme more accessible to the Rakyat,” stated Dato’ Dr. Anas.
Pursuant to the Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s announcement during the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will launch a National Health Screening Initiative (NHSI) in July to encourage members of the public to conduct health screenings and detect NCDs in Malaysia.
ProtectHealth through PeKa B40 will continue to work hand in hand with private medical practitioners and Healthcare NGOs to maximise the implementation of the NHSI.
Lindung Diri, Lindung Semua.
PROTECTHEALTH CORPORATION SDN. BHD.
