57% rise in dialysis patients since 2006

The Star Online 12/10/2011

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/12/parliament/9678055&sec=parliament

THE number of patients who had dialysis treatment rose by 56.7% from 14,946 patients in 2006 to 23,420 in 2010.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said that of the total, 7,115 underwent treatment at government dialysis centres, 9,813 at private centres and 6,492 at centres run by non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

“In 2009, the number of patients with kidney failure who underwent dialysis nationwide was 21,543.

“Of the total, 7,103 underwent dialysis in government dialysis centres, 8,356 in private centres and 6,084 at centres run by NGOs,” she told Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam).

Chong had asked for the number of kidney dialysis centres operated by the Government and private sectors as well as NGOs.

She had also asked for the number of patients receiving treatment at these centres each year for the past five years.

Rosnah said there were 181 government-operated dialysis centres, 297 private dialysis centres and 140 dialysis centres operated by NGOs last year.

She added that for Penang, there were 10 dialysis centres operated by the Government, 27 private dialysis centres and 20 operated by NGOs.

“The number of people seeking treatments at these centres is increasing yearly,” she said.