IPOH: A total of 112,887 households in low-income families or B40 have received benefits under the Madani Medical Scheme since it was introduced last June.
Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said in the three-month period, a total of 181,460 outpatient treatments were given to the target group through services at 1,587 private clinics registered through the scheme.
Dr Zaliha said the scheme is a new initiative announced by the prime minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his Budget 2023 speech.
"The scheme that was introduced on June 15 was implemented to help the B40 group get acute primary health care treatment at private clinics near their homes.
"This scheme started with a pilot project in 10 areas that were identified as having hospitals that were experiencing congestion before the same service was extended to the target areas throughout the country on Sept 15," she said.
Dr Zaliha said this in her speech at the launch of the Madani Medical Scheme and Madani Afiat Programme at Bulatan Sultan Azlan Shah in Meru here, today.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched the programme. Also present were Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar and Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
She said the ministry is always trying to improve the scheme by taking into account the input and suggestions of various parties so that it meets the health needs of the people and medical practitioners.
She said among the improvements that have been implemented include the addition of the types of medicines that could be prescribed and the increase in the cost of financing to private clinics including the cost of procedures and X-rays.
"In addition, the ministry will also re-evaluate the addition of service scope from time to time such as dentistry that can be included in the scheme.
"In fact, in the effort to digitise health services, ProtectHealth has developed an application to facilitate patient affairs such as eligibility check, clinic search, checking the balance of benefits under this scheme and OTP verification when receiving treatment at the clinic," she said.
In the meantime, Dr Zaliha said, the previous Madani Afiat programme had already been implemented in several states including Selangor, Kedah, Terengganu and Johor.
She said that the main content of the programme involves 'touch point' activities, which are house-to-house visits that also provide opportunities for the involvement of the top management of the ministry, community leaders as well as the medical team.
"In addition, static programmes are also held by the ministry in collaboration with other agencies to hold interactive activities for visitors," she said.
Earlier, Dr Zaliha along with health workers greeted the community by doing a walkabout in two houses in Taman Jati and Taman Meru 2B here.