“Cancer” in Indonesia. Just “infection” in Malaysia.
These starkly different diagnoses are why more and more Indonesians are saying they feel safer trusting Malaysian hospitals over their own.
Misdiagnoses spark concern
The discussion first blew up after a screenshot on Threads showed Indonesians comparing their medical experiences in both countries.
What started as a single post quickly opened the floodgates to countless testimonies.
One woman said her friend had been diagnosed with colon cancer in Indonesia. But after seeking a second opinion in Penang, doctors discovered it was nothing more than acid reflux (GERD).
Another netizen recounted how her maid’s father, who suffered chest pains, was immediately told he had heart disease and needed surgery to insert a stent costing 200 million rupiah (RM55,000+).
Luckily I told her to check in Malaysia first. When she went to Penang, doctors confirmed it was just GERD and a stomach ulcer. His heart was fine. Can you imagine, they almost operated on a healthy heart!” she wrote.
“Indonesian doctors are not as good as Malaysia”
As the stories piled up, some Indonesians admitted outright why they travel to Malaysia for treatment.
One netizen recalled asking a guest if she was visiting for a holiday. To his surprise, she replied, “No, for treatment.”
When asked why travel so far, she answered simply:
“Indonesian doctors aren’t as good as Malaysian doctors.”
This sense of distrust was echoed in another case, where a woman had been told she had ear cancer in Indonesia. But in Penang, doctors discovered it wasn’t cancer at all, just an insect that had crawled inside her ear.
From hopeless to hopeful
The contrast in diagnoses wasn’t just about avoiding unnecessary treatment, for some, it changed the course of their lives.
One woman said she was diagnosed with a cyst in Medan, leading to the removal of her ovary. Doctors later told her she had ovarian cancer and advised her to remove her uterus and undergo chemotherapy, warning she would never have children.
But when she sought a second opinion at Adventist Hospital in Penang, the MRI scan revealed she wasn’t sick at all.
“In August I went to Penang, and by November, I was confirmed pregnant,” she said, a result she never thought possible after what she had been told in Indonesia.
Praise for Malaysian healthcare
Beyond the medical outcomes, Indonesians also pointed out the differences in how patients are treated. Many praised Malaysian hospitals not just for professionalism but also for compassion.
“I’ve had three surgeries in Malaysia, and even as a foreigner, the care was excellent. Deposits could even be paid in installments. Most importantly, patients’ lives are really valued here,” shared one patient.
The praise continued with another case, where a patient had been told he had cancer in Indonesia but received no treatment for a month. After being brought to Penang, Malaysian doctors immediately performed surgery and later confirmed it was only a simple infection.
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