In a candid online revelation that has gone viral, a Malaysian father shared how he ended up depleting a whopping 70% of his savings on his wife’s emergency cesarean delivery in a private hospital.
The bill, amounting to over RM24,000, came as a shock to the couple.
Initially, the father had been under the impression that the costs would be reasonable.
“When I first looked at the maternity package, I saw a natural birth priced at RM4,000 and emergency cesarean delivery at RM9,000. I thought it fit our budget,” he admitted.
However, he wasn’t prepared for additional medical fees that certain upscale private hospitals might charge, catching him off guard.
“With my wife not working and having used 70% of my savings on the delivery, I’ll choose a regular hospital for our second child,” the father shared, aiming to caution other soon-to-be parents with his personal experience.
His post garnered significant attention, racking up over 1 million views on social media.
“Government hospital is better”
One netizen responded with a picture of a bill from a public hospital that showed a charge of less than RM2,000.
This included a cesarean delivery with complications, where the newborn had to be observed in the ICU for two weeks.
She emphasized, “Don’t be afraid of giving birth in government hospitals. Instead of spending a large sum in private hospitals, save that money for postnatal care or hiring a confinement nanny.”
She further pointed out that the RM24,000 the father had paid could cover 44 days in a confinement center.
Other netizens also shared their positive experiences with government hospitals. One user commented, “Both my children were born in a government hospital. The doctors and nurses were patient and kind, even when I was incoherent from labor pains.”
Another added, “Having my two kids in a public hospital only cost me RM43 and RM52, respectively. The money saved went to postnatal recovery, massages, confinement centers, and groceries. It was the best decision I’ve ever made.”
