{
  "id": 14923994,
  "title": "PeKa B40 becomes PeKa Sihat in healthcare revamp as govt looks to ease clinic queues",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/peka-b40-becomes-peka-sihat-in-healthcare-revamp-as-govt-looks-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T09:52:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/16/peka-b40-becomes-peka-sihat-in-healthcare-revamp-as-govt-looks-to-ease-clinic-queues/239363"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kuala Lumpur, Oct 16 - The Health Ministry's PeKa B40 healthcare programme is set to be rebranded as PeKa Sihat, with the aim of enhancing its effectiveness and alleviating pressure on public health clinics, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil announced today. The Cabinet has approved proposed amendments to the programme, which primarily targets the management of non-communicable diseases among lower-income groups. \"The Cabinet has agreed to the proposed amendments to the PeKa B40 programme under the Health Ministry, considering its effectiveness in addressing non-communicable diseases,\" Fahmi stated at a post-Cabinet media briefing. He further revealed that the Health Ministry is implementing several measures to bolster the programme and reduce congestion at public health clinics by leveraging participating clinics within the PeKa B40 initiative. Fahmi added that the Health Ministry will release more details regarding the rebranded PeKa Sihat programme in the near future. Originally launched in 2019, PeKa B40, also known as Skim Peduli Kesihatan untuk Kumpulan B40 in Malay, was established to cater to the healthcare needs of low-income populations, with a focus on early detection and management of non-communicable diseases. The programme is overseen by ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ProtectHealth Malaysia, operating under the Health Ministry's purview.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — The Health Ministry’s PeKa B40 healthcare programme will be rebranded as PeKa Sihat,...",
  "key_points": [
    "PeKa B40 healthcare programme to be renamed PeKa Sihat",
    "Rebranding aims to improve effectiveness and reduce clinic queues",
    "Cabinet approves amendments to target non-communicable diseases"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "PeKa B40 to be rebranded as PeKa Sihat",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/peka-b40-to-be-rebranded-as-peka-sihat",
        "published": "2026-10-16T09:03:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "PeKa B40 becomes PeKa Sihat in healthcare revamp as govt looks to ease clinic queues",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/peka-b40-becomes-peka-sihat-in-healthcare-revamp-as-govt-looks-to-14929110",
        "published": "2026-10-16T09:52:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}