Partnership to make healthcare accessible

In Sabah, distance, poverty and transportation costs can make accessing healthcare difficult even when treatment is available.

The Sabah Health Access Programme (Shape) was established to help patients overcome precisely these barriers.

Established by the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) in 2018 and supported through Sunway Group's Hope Borneo grant, the programme provides travel and transportation assistance to help people living with HIV attend hospital appointments and remain on treatment.

Since its inception, Shape has supported more than 2,500 beneficiaries across Sabah.

The Health Ministry provides clinical care, Sunway contributes corporate resources and funding, while MAF works directly with communities to address the socioeconomic barriers that prevent patients from benefiting fully from available healthcare services.

MAF chairman Professor Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman says healthcare access extends beyond the availability of doctors, medicines and treatment.

"Healthcare does not begin and end at the hospital door. If a patient cannot afford the journey to treatment, the healthcare system has not fully reached them."

As healthcare demands continue to grow, partnerships that bring together government, business and communities can help close critical gaps and ensure healthcare investments reach those who need them most, she adds.

Sunway Group's support for Shape has also extended to Sarawak, where the programme has been strengthened by a RM2.25 million contribution from the Sarawak government.

The impact is particularly significant in HIV care, where continuity of treatment is essential.

People living with HIV who remain on effective antiretroviral treatment can achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load, enabling them to live healthy and productive lives.

People with an undetectable viral load do not sexually transmit HIV, a principle known as "undetectable = untransmittable" (U=U).

By helping vulnerable patients remain connected to treatment, Shape contributes to Malaysia's efforts to sustain HIV treatment outcomes, reduce HIV transmission and achieve the goals of the Health Ministry's National Strategic Plan to End AIDS by 2030.