KUCHING, Dec 19 2025:The Sarawak government has taken firm actions against several panel clinics found to have committed misconduct under the Senior Citizen Health Benefit (SCHB) programme, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability and the welfare of senior citizens.
Fatimmah Abdullah: Such actions clearly constituted non-compliance with the Memorandum of Agreement and approved clinical guidelines governing the SCHB programme
Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Fatimah Abdullah revealed that based on official complaints and monitoring by officers on the ground, the government had received reports involving a small number of SCHB panel clinics committing misconduct, including providing unauthorised medical products, allowing benefits to be used by ineligible individuals, and discrepancies between services rendered and items listed on receipts.
“Such actions clearly constituted non-compliance with the Memorandum of Agreement and approved clinical guidelines governing the SCHB programme,” she told reporters today.
She said three of the clinics are in Miri, Sarikei and Mukah were issued warning letters while another clinic in Kuching was temporarily suspended from attending to patients under the SCHB programme.
As a firm response, she said the government, through the Sarawak Community Welfare Department, has conducted audits and internal investigations, imposed temporary suspensions on the clinics involved, investigated invoicing claims and barred the affected clinics from receiving SCHB patients during the investigation period.
She stressed that the government will not compromise on any breach of agreement terms, professional ethics or existing laws, adding that appropriate action will continue to be taken without prejudice.
At the same time, Fatimah assured that the welfare and continuity of treatment for senior citizens under the SCHB programme will continue to be safeguarded, while monitoring and enforcement mechanisms will be further strengthened to ensure the programme remains effective and credible.
She said the SCHB programme is open to senior citizens aged 60 and above with a household income below RM7,000, aimed at easing access to outpatient medical treatment in a cashless manner.
“As of today, a total of 212,234 senior citizens have been registered under programme, which provides cashless outpatient treatment of up to RM500 per year and can be accessed at 286 registered panel facilities nationwide,” she said.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Mohammad Razi Sitam, National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) state director Abdul Hamediee Ibrahim, and state Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) chief ACP Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah.
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