SINGAPORE: The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) has
received the largest donation from a living individual donor in 13
years.
Indonesian-born Chinese businessman Mr Kasmadi
Melati, who lives in Singapore, donated S$1
million.
Mr Kasmadi, who turned 68 this month, felt it was
timely to contribute back to society.
He chose to help kidney patients after he saw how costly dialysis
was when his best friend was coping with the condition.
His donation will help NKF provide dialysis and rehabilitative care
at highly-subsidised rates.
More than half of NKF's patients pay less than S$50 a month
out-of-pocket, compared with as much as S$3,000 at private dialysis
centres.
NKF's incoming chairman, Mr Koh Poh Tiong, said: "The last fiscal
year we were short of about S$5 million, so the S$1 million coming
in is really a big help for us. As you know...each dialysis patient
sits down at the station here on the chair three times a week, 13
times a month.
"So this S$1 million will help treat about 50 patients for the
whole year. Most of these patients are not able to afford this
dialysis, or some of them only pay S$50, which means on a monthly
basis, they only pay S$4 on average, per dialysis."
Dialysis patient, Nuzan Ajjamudi, said: "I can't take it if I don't
go for dialysis at least once every week. What more if I don't get
any treatment at all? I do not think I can live like that."
As at 30 June, NKF serves 3,033 patients and beneficiaries.
More funds are needed to build four new dialysis centres as NKF
expects to treat another 500 new patients by 2016.
In 1999, chairman of SUTL Group, Mr Tay Choon Hye who has since
passed on, donated S$5 million to the NKF to set up a dialysis
centre.
Over the years, NKF also received large donations of over S$1
million from individuals, but these were from individuals who have
bequeathed their money and assets.
- CNA/ir