KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 31): ProtectHealth Corp Sdn Bhd revealed that as of Sept 30 this year, over 40% of more than 530,000 eligible beneficiaries screened under the PeKA B40 healthcare scheme have been detected to have at least one non-communicable disease.

The ratio is higher than the 33% reported in July this year, when 457,462 recipients under PeKa B40, which stands for Skim Peduli Kesihatan Untuk Kumpulan B40, had been screened.

In a statement welcoming the allocation of RM32.4 billion to the Ministry of Health (MoH) under Budget 2022 — the second largest allocation after the Ministry of Education — ProtectHealth pledges to continue prioritising healthcare for the B40 group through PeKa B40, and help the government implement the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme or PICK.

"ProtectHealth will also continue to facilitate the MOH in its efforts to provide booster doses to adults and vaccination programmes for adolescents and children aged 12 to 17 through the involvement of private medical practitioners and Health NGOs. As of Oct 29, 2021, ProtectHealth has successfully contributed 48% of total vaccinations throughout Malaysia, which is equivalent to 23,576,102 doses in PICK," it said.

It will also conduct more outreach programmes with various parties to ensure those eligible for the PeKa B40 scheme receive its benefits.

"In addition, ProtectHealth also fully supports the allocation of RM70 million in the Budget 2022, which focuses on mental health issues, including strengthening support, counselling and psychology services, increasing advocacy programmes and boosting the role of non-governmental organisations as movers of mental health programmes. ProtectHealth will play a significant role in this area through research, where recipients of PeKa B40 will stand to benefit," it added.

As a non-profit wholly-owned unit of ProtectHealth Malaysia that was set up under the Ministry of Health (MoH), ProtectHealth coordinates, administers and manages initiatives related to financing healthcare services, as mandated by the MoH.

It is the healthcare scheme administrator for PeKa B40, and the electronic service provider for Skim Perlindungan Insurans Kesihatan Pekerja Asing or SPIKPA. It is also the implementer of the private medical practitioner and healthcare NGO participation under PICK.