Before dawn, before work: The long road for some outstation cancer patients who travel to Penang for treatment (opens original article in a new tab)

Cancer patients in northern Malaysia travel long distances to Penang Hospital for treatment, facing early departures and additional costs, while the hospital serves as a regional referral center with high patient volume.

• Penang Hospital serves as the northern region's oncology referral center since 2005
• Cancer patients from Kedah and Perak travel long distances to Penang Hospital for treatment
• Patients face costs for petrol, parking, and tolls during their journeys
• Penang Hospital handles 250 new cancer cases and 1,500 follow-up appointments monthly
• Outstation patients often arrive before sunrise due to early departure times