adminKLANG, Oct 15 (Bernama) — The Eco World Foundation has donated two new haemodialysis machines worth RM108,000 to Yayasan St John Ambulans Malaysia – Kawasan Pantai Selangor (SJAM-KPS) to replace ageing equipment that had been in use for more than 20 years.
Eco World Foundation chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the contribution came amid a growing number of patients requiring dialysis treatment nationwide, with more than 10,000 new patients recorded annually.
“For patients, dialysis machines are not a luxury but a lifeline, as they need to visit dialysis centres regularly for long-term treatment.
“When the SJAM-KPS Foundation informed us about the condition of its existing machines, which had been in use for more than two decades, we recognised the urgent need to act to ensure that patients could continue receiving uninterrupted treatment,” he said at a press conference at the SJAM-KPS Klang Haemodialysis Centre (Station 2) here today.
Earlier, Lee handed over the machines to SJAM-KPS Foundation chief operating officer Datuk Yeo Kim Thong, in the presence of Eco World Foundation Board of Trustees members Tan Sri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and Philip Mathews.
Also present were Eco World Development Group Bhd deputy chief executive officer Liew Tian Xiong and chief development officer (Integrated Development and Project Delivery) Sri Ram Sivasambu.
Lee said the two machines would be installed at the SJAM-KPS Klang Haemodialysis Centre (Station 1), which caters to patients with Hepatitis B.
“Providing specialised isolation equipment is crucial to ensuring that patients with Hepatitis B receive comprehensive care without risking cross-infection among other patients at the centre, including those at Station 2, which caters to patients with Hepatitis A.
“With this contribution, the total number of dialysis machines donated by the Eco World Foundation to the SJAM-KPS Foundation since 2018 has reached five, with a cumulative value of RM245,500,” he said.
Citing the 33rd Report of the Malaysian Dialysis and Transplant Registry 2025, Lee said 57,638 patients nationwide received dialysis treatment last year, including 9,905 new patients.
He said the figures underscored the need for various parties, including the government and private sector, to provide sustained financial support to haemodialysis centres, particularly those operated by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which generally charge lower fees than private facilities.
“NGO-run centres generally offer subsidised treatment at about RM150 per session, compared with RM280 to RM300 at private centres. The cost can be substantial for patients who require three dialysis sessions a week.
“Most patients receiving treatment at the SJAM-KPS Klang Haemodialysis Centre come from the B40 and M40 income groups and need access to affordable healthcare services,” he said.
Lee added that long waiting lists and a shortage of organ donors made transplantation difficult for many patients, leaving regular dialysis treatment as the main option for most.
— BERNAMA
