Husband Can't Believe He Only Needed To Pay RM258 For Wife's Brain Surgery & 3-Week Stay
"Malaysia truly has the most compassionate healthcare system in the world," he said.
A man was amazed to discover that he only had to pay RM258 for his wife's brain surgery and 26-day stay at a government hospital
In a post, Facebook user Lee Vi Hua shared relief and gratefulness for his wife's successful surgery and the surprisingly low cost of her hospitalisation.
"It felt like the longest 26 days of our lives," he wrote about the ordeal.
Lee shared that his wife had suddenly experienced a splitting headache at home on 15 December. He rushed her to a local clinic, where she was given painkillers and then sent home.
However, when her headache persisted into the night, they decided to go to a private hospital, where a CT scan was done. The doctor told them that she was bleeding in the brain, caused by a ruptured blood vessel.
"She had a ruptured aneurysm at the back of the brain, and the bleeding was causing her severe headache. Fortunately, the affected area was not much, so she did not have a stroke or any paralysis," Lee said.
The doctor then recommended that she undergo an urgent brain coiling procedure to fix the aneurysm
However, the treatment was only available at one private hospital or the general hospital, Sultanah Aminah Hospital, in Johor Bahru.
"We chose to do the surgery at the private hospital, which was estimated to cost RM150,000... Even though my wife had insurance, I was still secretly frightened by the cost," he divulged.
However, Lee said circumstances changed when his wife tested positive for COVID-19 on 17 December, requiring her to be admitted to a government hospital.
According to Lee, it was a regulation by the Health Ministry, and thus, they had no choice but to also continue the treatment for her brain aneurysm there.
Lee said the next two weeks were a challenge, as his wife had to be admitted alone in a COVID-19 isolation ward, while they waited for a consultation by the public hospital's neurosurgeon, who was on vacation.
Despite all the setbacks, Lee said his wife's two-hour surgery went as planned on 7 January, and she was allowed to be discharged just two days later
"Finally, after 26 days of hardship, it was coming to an end. And guess how much was the final bill that I had to pay? For food and accommodation for three weeks, and the best team of doctors who saved my wife's life?" he wrote on Facebook expressing gratitude.
"The answer is RM258! Malaysia truly has the most compassionate healthcare system in the world. If we were at a private hospital, the price would have cost a thousand times more!" he exclaimed.
Image via Lee Vi Hua (Facebook)
Lee's Facebook post has since garnered over 4,500 likes and 2,700 shares, with other Malaysians also commending the public healthcare system for its affordability
"Our government hospital charges are really very generous. Except for the never-ending shortage of manpower, the service and medical standards are very good too. I really do feel cared for by the government hospital," said a Facebook user.
Image via Facebook
"Malaysia's public healthcare system with its minimal costs is really among the top 10 best in the world! An uncle of mine also had brain surgery done at Johor Bahru's general hospital before and the total cost of his hospitalisation was only RM150! So, do you love Malaysia?" one asked.
Image via Facebook
Another said, "I hope your wife recovers soon. I have also undergone surgery at a government hospital before and it was very cheap. Their service and attitude was very good too."
Image via Facebook
Here are other Malaysians who were pleasantly surprised by the country's public healthcare system:
Meanwhile, government healthcare professionals have long been calling for better compensation for the work that they do:
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