KUALA LUMPUR: The chief executive of the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) has expressed bewilderment after being slapped with a RM18,837.55 bill for a minor hernia operation at a Kuala Lumpur private hospital.
Mark O'Dell, who has led AIA and Manulife in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Taiwan, was taken aback by the 13-page bill for a procedure performed in May.
With 44 years in the life insurance industry, O'Dell questioned how a single night in the hospital could generate such an extensive invoice.
"How could a simple procedure with a one-night hospital stay result in a 13-page bill?"
Dated May 28, the bill included 95 line items across 13 categories.
Charges included RM3,189 for consignment supplies, RM3,850.30 for equipment and instrumentation, RM2,105.60 for medical and surgical supplies, and RM2,606.68 for medication.
Other costs were RM158.50 for miscellaneous items, RM139.50 for nursing care, RM27.70 for nursing procedures, RM1,372.40 for the operating theatre, RM2,508 for room and board, and RM2,621 for doctors' fees.
"You look at all the items, and I don't understand some of the things that are on there," O'Dell was reported as saying to CodeBlue on August 16.
"How do I, as a consumer, understand what's necessary and what's not? It's just not right."
"This arthroscopic surgery is a wonderful thing actually. They don't have to cut you open. You heal much faster, and maybe that's why some of the costs are higher," O'Dell said.
"But some of these things here, I just look at this – three disposable underpads for RM32.70, ear probe cover for RM6.30. None of this is regulated. There's no reason why tomorrow they can't make this RM6.60 or RM7.60," he added.
O'Dell declined to name the private hospital that treated him.