Ministry of Islamic Affairs has revealed 567 patients in need of financial assistance were assisted by the Zakat Fund in 2020.
The Islamic Ministry stated the Zakat Fund contained USD 8.3 million as of December 2020. Islamic Ministry's statistics for 2020 revealed USD 410,000 was spent from the Zakat Fund on medical assistance last year.
Due to the low number of requests for financial assistance to cover medical expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic, a significantly low amount was spent from the Zakat Fund in 2020. The statistics show 144 cancer patients received financial assistance from the Zakat Fund and 58 patients received assistance for eye diseases. Furthermore, a total of 26 patients received assistance for heart diseases, along with 24 kidney patients, and 14 people who received assistance for autism treatment.
Zakat Fund was also used to pay the medical bills and transplant operations for seven patients in various categories last year. A total of 13 students who received full scholarships in 2020 also received a total of USD 44,000 from the fund.
The government uses the Zakat Fund to assist those in need of funding for medical treatment and education. The fund has also been previously used to renovate mosques and fund other projects related to the public.