By Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH: After more than 30 years earning a living as a taxi driver, Aminudin Aziz, 75, from Gerik was forced to give up his job when cataracts that had affected his vision since his 50s progressively worsened.
The condition not only deprived him of his source of income but also forced him to spend more time at home, as he could no longer carry on with his daily routine as before.
However, the opportunity to undergo cataract surgery under a fully sponsored programme by Perak Community Specialist Hospital (PCSH) in Ipoh has given him renewed hope.
Aminudin said he had been receiving treatment at PCSH for two days and had undergone surgery on his right eye. His left eye will be treated after the right eye has recovered.
“I am very happy to have been selected for cataract surgery at PCSH. I am deeply touched because I do not have much money to pay for the surgery myself.
“Now, I live only with my wife, while all my children have gone out to work.
“I am grateful to all the doctors at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) and PCSH for helping me get the opportunity to see better,” he told Ipoh Echo/Peraktastic.
He said he had previously thought that cataract surgery could only be performed at HRPB in Ipoh, making the opportunity to receive treatment through the collaboration between the public and private hospitals particularly meaningful to him.
The programme provides full sponsorship for 40 cataract surgeries for eligible B40 patients through the PCSH Welfare Fund, in collaboration with HRPB, the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) and The Perak Chinese Maternity Association (TPCMA).
The initiative aims to increase cataract treatment capacity while easing the burden on patients facing waiting periods of between six and eight months for surgery at HRPB.
The sponsorship covers initial clinical assessments, cataract surgery and post-operative follow-up care. It is available to eligible Malaysian citizens from the B40 group identified and referred by HRPB, subject to the stipulated eligibility criteria.
Since the programme began in September, 19 patients have been referred to PCSH, with four having completed their surgeries.
Under the programme’s mechanism, HRPB is responsible for identifying and referring patients, while PCSH conducts further assessments, performs the surgeries and provides follow-up care for patients confirmed to be eligible.
