M'sian Forced To Pay RM15,000 Per Day For Hospitalisation In Japan After Contracting Flu
The woman felt lucky to have survived the flu after learning of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu's death.
A Malaysian woman's holiday in Hokkaido, Japan, took a frightening turn when she contracted influenza and required hospital treatment, facing a daily bill of RM15,000
According to China Press, the woman, surnamed Qin (transliteration), travelled to Japan with her family in early January and experienced breathing difficulties while at the summit of a mountain in Hokkaido.
At the time, she mistook her condition for a reaction to the cold weather. Her family and their chartered driver tried to find medication, but pharmacies informed them that an asthma inhaler required hospital admission.
"After being admitted [to a local hospital], I was given breathing support due to oxygen deficiency. Communication was difficult [with the hospital staff], even with translation apps, until we encountered a Chinese translator.
"I described my condition, but the hospital staff only administered oxygen once and continued with intravenous fluids, although I still struggled to breathe," Qin recounted.
Image via China Press
Despite having travel insurance, Qin discovered that emergency hospital admissions in Japan required upfront cash payments
Concerned about insufficient funds, she decided to return to Malaysia for treatment.
"My family was worried about me because I hadn't eaten anything. I was exhaling more than I was inhaling. After taking painkillers, I started vomiting the next day," Qin told China Press.
She informed the hospital she could not afford further treatment, and they had her sign a disclaimer releasing them from responsibility after her discharge.
Upon arriving in Malaysia, she was admitted to a hospital. Her blood oxygen levels were critically low. While most patients require only two medications, she was administered more than 10 medications that night.
"The doctor said I had to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) because my blood oxygen levels could not stabilise," she said.
"I was hospitalised for five days and four nights. I didn't return to work immediately after being discharged, but underwent a period of isolation. I have now fully recovered."
Image via China Press
While filing her insurance claim and reviewing her medical report, Qin learned that her symptoms were similar to those of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, who recently died from influenza complications in Japan
"When we were applying for insurance claims three days before the news of Barbie Hsu's passing, the hospital sent us the medical report.
"The results showed that my symptoms were exactly the same as hers. I feel very lucky to have survived the flu," Qin shared.
Barbie Hsu died of influenza at the age of 48:
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