Top 3 common illnesses in Malaysia, and average medical expenses.
Let's start with Top 1, CANCER!
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) data, globally, 19,292,789 new cases of cancer were registered in 2020, and 9,958,133 patients lost their lives to the disease. Malaysia is a relatively small country. However, 48,639 new cases of cancer and 29,530 cancer-mediated deaths were reported in Malaysia in 2020.
According to the National Cancer Registry Report, the most common cancers among males are lung and nasopharyngeal while cervical and breast cancer is more common in females.
The treatment cost of lung cancer is up to RM56,000 and nasopharyngeal cancer is up to RM70,000. For female cancer, breast cancer can cost up to RM395,000.
Top 2, Heart Diseases:
Consultant specialist in cardiology and internal medicine at University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) Associate Prof Dr. Muhammad Dzafir Ismail said among the negative aspects of WFH(Work From Home) was that people spent most of their time at home which resulted in them eating “too much of unhealthy food” and not exercising enough as they could not go jogging or cycling outdoors.
There were 18,515 deaths due to ischaemic heart disease last year – 12,707 (68.6%) for males, and 5,808 (31.4%) for females in 2020. It is the main cause of death for those aged between 41 and 59 (20%) and also 60 years and above (18%).
So, how many need to prepare for fighting this critical illness? An angiogram or one stent angioplasty in a private hospital will range between RM15,000 to RM45,000. On the other hand, a coronary bypass cost in private hospitals will range from RM25,000 to RM80,000.
Yes! The total may be up to RM100,000.
Top 3, Stroke
Stroke is an invisible killer in Malaysia. Strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is cut off, causing brain cells to be deprived of oxygen. When this happens, brain cells are in danger of dying, leading to abilities controlled by that area of the brain being lost.
According to the Monitoring Stroke Burden in Malaysia study conducted in 2017, Dr. Noor Hisham said it was estimated that 150 out of 100,000 Malaysians suffered from stroke with an average daily hospitalisation of 92 cases.
He said the study also reported that 40 percent of stroke patients were under 60 years old. Malaysia also records almost 32 deaths every day due to stroke and stroke patients are burdened with various morbidities where seven out of 10 stroke patients depend on others to survive.
Treatment for stroke can cost anywhere between RM40,000–RM85,000.