KOTA KINABALU, Feb 14 -- The National Health Protection Scheme, mySalam, provides the opportunity for chronic disease patients especially from the B40 (low-income group) to claim for a free takaful health coverage to cover the costs of medical treatment and hospitalisation.

Most of the applicants met by Bernama at mySalam kiosk at Queen Elizabeth Hospital I (HQE I) here, described the government's initiative launched last year as a platform that could help ease the burden of underprivileged patients especially those in the rural areas.

A housewife, Noor Saniah Mahadi, 24, from Tenom said the mySalam scheme would help cover the medical and hospitalisation costs of her 26-year-old sister, Norsinah, who is undergoing haemodialysis at HQE I after she was diagnosed with kidney failure in November last year.

According to Noor Saniah, she helped her sister, who is a single mother and recipient of the Cost of Living Aid (BSH), to apply for mySalam one-off RM8,000 cash payout and income replacement of RM50 per day in January.

"After completing the documentation at IRB, we sent it to mySalam. Now, we are waiting for the approval. Today, we come to submit the supporting documents to get the RM50 allowance," she said.

Noor Saniah said they had to travel from Tenom to Kota Kinabalu once a week for a follow-up treatment.

"The cost from Tenom to Kota Kinabalu is over RM300. Therefore, we hope that my sister's application will be approved," said Noor Saniah who thanked the mySalam kiosk staff for providing the information and assistance.

Meanwhile, a 43-year-old cataract patient, Azizan Sidi from Kota Belud, who underwent eye surgery at the hospital said he would take full advantage of the benefits provided by the mySalam scheme.

"There are categories that can be claimed including surgery. I will take this opportunity because I think this is a good government initiative to help the B40 group,� he said.

Azizan, who is also a BSH recipient, said the mySalam kiosk staff helped him to understand the scheme's benefits, especially in helping the underprivileged.

In Sabah, besides HQE I, mySalam kiosk is also opened at two other government hospitals, namely the Women and Children Hospital in Likas and the Duchess of Kent Hospital in Sandakan.

It operates on working days to deliver information on mySalam as well as facilitating applicants to fill out forms and to check claim status.

-- BERNAMA