Why more than five million Malaysians in the B40 group are opting out of the free health screening scheme

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 — As of May 31, only 1.6 million Malaysians from the B40 group have taken up free health screenings offered under the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) PeKa B40 scheme.

Introduced in 2019, the programme aims to provide comprehensive health checks for 6.9 million Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) recipients. The benefits include free basic screenings, physical examinations, blood and urine tests, as well as two doctor consultations.

ProtectHealth Corporation’s head of Quality Assurance, Dr Muhammed Anis Abd Wahab, said the scheme represents a national effort to address a growing silent health crisis. However, participation remains low, reflecting a weak culture of preventive healthcare, especially among lower-income groups.

“Many cite time constraints, work commitments, worries over treatment costs, and the mindset that ‘it’s better not to know if you’re ill,’” he explained.

“During engagement sessions, recipients acknowledged the importance of screenings but often avoided them due to fears of discovering a serious illness and the financial burden of treatment,” he told Bernama.

He noted that most patients who eventually seek hospital care are already in critical condition — something that could have been prevented through early detection and regular check-ups.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol continue to be leading causes of death and disability in Malaysia, with many patients only diagnosed at advanced stages.

Citing a 2017 joint study with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Muhammed Anis said NCDs contribute to an annual economic loss of RM100 billion to RM300 billion, with productivity losses from absenteeism alone estimated at RM12.8 billion a year.

“This is the reality. NCDs are imposing a heavy economic burden and eroding productivity, as individuals unable to work or underperforming due to poor health cost the nation billions annually,” he said.

To improve access, ProtectHealth is working with NGOs, private clinics and community leaders to reach high-risk groups, particularly those who are overweight or physically inactive.

Beyond screenings, PeKa B40 also provides medical device assistance, cancer treatment support and transport subsidies.

ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd — a wholly owned subsidiary of ProtectHealth Malaysia under MOH — was set up on Dec 19, 2016, to coordinate and manage healthcare financing programmes, including PeKa B40, the MADANI Medical Scheme and the Hospital Services Outsourcing (HSOP) initiative. — Bernama