THE nation is now spending RM3.3 billion annually on the treatment of end-stage kidney disease, a sharp increase from RM572 million in 2010, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has revealed.
"In 2010, Malaysia spent RM572mil on end-stage kidney disease treatment. Today, that cost has surged to RM3.3bil annually," he said.
"That is how much the cost has gone up," he added during his speech at the 2026 World Kidney Day celebration on Sunday.
He said the government has channelled revenue from excise duties on sugar-sweetened beverages towards managing diabetes mellitus, while also helping to reduce complications linked to chronic kidney disease.
"This fund is fully utilised to finance sodium-glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, a highly innovative treatment proven to treat patients with diabetes mellitus while simultaneously reducing the risk of complications from chronic kidney disease," he said.
Addressing concerns over the long-term sustainability of treatment costs, Dzulkefly said the Health Ministry has intensified efforts to promote its “PD First” policy, which prioritises peritoneal dialysis as an initial treatment option for suitable patients.
"In response to the challenge of treatment sustainability, the Health Ministry has also taken proactive steps by strengthening the PD first (peritoneal dialysis) policy, which encourages eligible patients to begin dialysis treatment at home. This approach provides greater independence for patients, reduces congestion at treatment centres and lowers healthcare costs," he said.
The minister added that RM40 million has been allocated specifically for peritoneal dialysis treatment in 2025.
"The percentage of patients undergoing PD treatment at the health ministry's facilities has increased to 42% in 2025, compared to only 36.6% in 2020," he said.
"A total of 3,161 patients have directly benefited from PD treatment at the Health Ministry's facilities," he added.
Dzulkefly warned that in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, Malaysia is now grappling with what he described as a “pandemic” of non-communicable diseases, with kidney failure emerging as one of the most concerning outcomes. - April 12, 2026
