Launching the PeKa B40 2019/2020 report, Adham said 457,462 from the B40 group have registered for the scheme since its launch in April 2019.
He said 10.4% of those registered were found to be suffering from diabetes, 29.8% had high cholesterol, 13.8% hypertension, 1.6% depression and 1.4% anxiety.
The PeKa B40 (or Peduli Kesihatan B40) scheme was launched with an initial allocation of RM100 million to cover 800,000 individuals.
It is run by ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd (PHCorp), a non-profit subsidiary of the health ministry.
Adham said ProtectHealth had spent RM62.5 million between April 15, 2019 and Dec 31, 2020 for health screenings.
He said the ministry has applied for additional allocations because more M40 individuals were slipping into the B40 group due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Aside from the RM62.5 million spent on health screenings, he said, RM20.9 million was used to procure medical equipment such as cardiovascular stents, prosthetics, pacemakers and hearing aids.
A sum of RM1.6 million was also spent to support cancer patients in completing their treatment, and RM1.5 million on transportation incentives.
Under the scheme, living aid (Bantuan Sara Hidup or BSH) and Prihatin Rakyat recipients and their spouses, who are 40 years old and above, are eligible for free health screenings at participating general practitioners (GPs) and health ministry clinics.
They are also entitled to medical equipment worth up to RM20,000, incentives to complete cancer treatment worth RM1,000 and transportation cost totalling RM1,000.
Elaborating on the NCDs, Adham said the PeKa B40 scheme found that 1.6% of the recipients suffered from depression and 1.4% suffered anxiety.
He said the scheme is, therefore, important for early detection of mental health issues.
For 2021, he said, the health ministry has been allocated RM24 million for mental health programmes. Two hundred counsellors have been placed at the ministry’s clinics nationwide so far to screen for mental health issues.
The ministry will also be looking into improvements in medication for the treatment of mental health issues, on top of partnering with schools and the education ministry for early detection.