Removal of Gallbladder — what it costs in Penang
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
How much does a removal of gallbladder cost in Penang?
The typical private hospital bill in Penang is RM17,800, with most bills falling between RM13,300 – RM22,600. This is a state-level figure from Malaysian insurer claims data, not a quote from any particular hospital.
Penang
RM17,800
typical bill
RM13,300 – RM22,600
Kuala Lumpur
RM22,200
typical bill
RM18,400 – RM28,800
A removal of gallbladder typically bills about 20% less in Penang than in Kuala Lumpur. Penang ranks 3 of 12 states with credible data for this procedure, where 1 is the cheapest. Setting: inpatient (overnight stay or longer).
Typical bill by state
Cheapest first. States with too few claims to be credible are not shown.
| State | Typical bill | Usual range |
|---|---|---|
| Sarawak | RM12,500 | RM10,800 – RM15,900 |
| Melaka | RM17,800 | RM13,600 – RM22,300 |
| Pulau Pinang← Penang | RM17,800 | RM13,300 – RM22,600 |
| Pahang | RM19,000 | RM17,000 – RM24,600 |
| Kedah | RM20,700 | RM17,300 – RM25,200 |
| Perak | RM20,800 | RM17,200 – RM25,700 |
| Negeri Sembilan | RM21,200 | RM19,000 – RM27,200 |
| Kuala Lumpur | RM22,200 | RM18,400 – RM28,800 |
| Selangor | RM24,000 | RM19,500 – RM32,400 |
| Kelantan | RM24,400 | RM20,000 – RM28,900 |
| Johor | RM24,600 | RM19,700 – RM30,500 |
| Sabah | RM26,800 | RM18,500 – RM37,400 |
What this figure is, and is not
- It is a typical bill for insured patients — not a quote, and not a price list.
- It is state-level. It does not tell you what any individual hospital charges, and we make no comparison between named hospitals.
- Your bill depends on your consultant, your case, your room class and your length of stay.
- Where you are treated is a clinical decision. Price is one input among several, and rarely the first.
Common questions
Is it cheaper than Kuala Lumpur?
Yes. The typical bill in Kuala Lumpur is RM22,200, so Penang is about 20% lower. Penang ranks 3 of 12 Malaysian states with credible data for this procedure, where 1 is cheapest.
Will my bill be this amount?
Not necessarily. These are typical bills for insured patients across a whole state. Your bill depends on your consultant, the complexity of your case, your room class and how long you stay. Ask the hospital for a written estimate for your own case.
Source
LIAM, Malaysian Takaful Association and PIAM — Price Ranges for Common Private Healthcare Services in Malaysia, January 2026, page 37. Built from the MHIT database of actual insurer claims under the national RESET framework.
Read the source document · checked on 2026-07-28