Sarawak government suspends panel clinic, investigating another for Senior Citizens’ Health Benefit breaches
by Churchill Edward · Borneo Post OnlineKUCHING (Dec 18): The Sarawak government has suspended a Senior Citizens’ Health Benefit (SCHB) panel clinic from the programme and is investigating another for breaching its terms.
Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said firm action has been taken against the misconduct to ensure transparency, accountability, and the protection of senior citizens’ welfare.
She revealed that the ministry had received complaints from the public and reports from monitoring officers regarding several panellists that had allegedly violated the memorandum of agreement (MoA).
The reported misconduct included providing unauthorised medical products such as supplements, misuse of SCHB quotas by ineligible individuals including family members, and failure to provide medical services in accordance with approved items while issuing questionable receipts.
“These actions clearly contravene the guidelines and conditions set out in the MoA, including the misuse of quotas under the SCHB programme,” she , told reporters after chairing a One-Stop Centre committee meeting here.
She said the ministry has initiated audits, adjudication processes, and in-depth investigations against the clinics involved.
“All private clinics involved must uphold integrity and comply fully with the agreements signed, including adhering to approved medicine prices and services,” she stressed.
Fatimah also pledged that the sustainability of the SCHB programme would not be affected.
Monitoring mechanisms, compliance controls, and system improvements will continue to be strengthened to ensure the programme remains effective and credible, she said.
“All clinical panels are reminded to strictly comply with the agreement, practise high integrity and place patients’ interests as the top priority, in line with the government’s objective of providing meaningful healthcare support to senior citizens.
“Clinics found in continued violation after audits may face warnings, suspension, or permanent removal as the SCHB panel,” she warned.
Under the SCHB programme, Sarawakians aged 60 and above with a household income of below RM7,000 are entitled to cashless treatment of up to RM500 per year at registered panel clinics.
As of Dec 19, 2025, more than 212,000 senior citizens have registered for the benefit.
Currently, the programme involves 286 registered panels statewide, comprising 177 medical clinics, 97 dental clinics, and 12 specialist hospitals.