NKF Offers Kidney Transplant Subsidy to Needy Organ Donors & Patients

31/01/2023

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WORDS LIM TECK CHOON

GOOD NEWS FOR MALAYSIANS THAT REQUIRE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO UNDERGO KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) of Malaysia has launched its Kidney Transplant Subsidy.

This subsidy aims to help underprivileged patients and organ donors with their financial burden of kidney transplantation.

The subsidy will cover various costs from pre- to post-kidney transplantation, including income loss replacement for the workup and recuperating period.

“The subsidy accounts for the many costs that are prevalent in the process of transplantation, which can discourage organ donors and patients from following through especially for those that are underprivileged. With over 8,000 Malaysians being diagnosed with kidney disease annually, it’s imperative that we help facilitate transplantation to the best of our ability,” says Khor Xin Yun, the Chief Executive Officer of NKF Malaysia.

WHAT THE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT SUBSIDY COVERS

BEFORE THE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

Blood tests
Traveling expenses for out-of-town patients
Lodging expenses for out-of-town patients
Income loss replacement during organ donor’s workup
Other pre-kidney transplant workups, should services/facilities are not available at government hospitals and are needed in private settings
Other areas, where the need for kidney transplant screening is not available in government hospitals or being referred by government hospitals to private medical centres

DURING THE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

Traveling expenses
Lodging expenses for the patient, organ donor, and carer
Subsistence for the poor, from pre to post-kidney transplant, as needed
Income loss for the organ donor during the recuperating stage

AFTER THE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

Traveling expenses for follow-up
Lodging
Subsistence
Income loss

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE KIDNEY TRANSPLANT SUBSIDY

Government or university hospitals

To apply for the kidney transplant subsidy, the consultant nephrologist from a government hospital refers and recommends a patient along with a detailed medical summary and a list of items required for the subsidy.

If a government or university hospital does not have the capacity to tend to the patient

The nephrologist can refer the patient to a private hospital for pre-transplant screening and workups under the subsidy. However, the subsidy does not include the cost of surgical fees, as government hospitals have the capacity to perform kidney transplant surgery and provide immunosuppression therapy.