Health Screening Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur: A Medical Tourism Guide

Health screening Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

Health Screening Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur – Health screenings play a vital role in early detection and can be life-saving, especially for conditions like heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and cancer, which often have no symptoms in their early stages.

In Singapore, the cost of an “executive” health screening typically starts from around S$1,000, which may deter some individuals from undergoing regular checkups. However, an alternative option is available in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where you can benefit from high-quality health screenings at a more affordable price.

Advantages Of Health Screening In Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

The advantages of undergoing health screening in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur are:

  • Affordable Fees: Health screening in Kuala Lumpur is much more affordable compared to Singapore, making it a cost-effective option for many.
  • Medical Tourism Hub: Kuala Lumpur is well-known as a medical tourism hub, providing high-quality, world-class healthcare services to international patients.
  • Cultural Familiarity: Singaporeans will find cultural familiarity in Malaysia, easing the overall experience and making it more comfortable.
  • English and Malay Speaking Staff: Most medical and administrative staff in Kuala Lumpur are fluent in both English and Malay, ensuring effective communication.
  • Short Travel Time: The short distance between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur makes it easy and convenient to travel for health check-ups.
  • Shorter Wait Times: With shorter waiting times for medical imaging and appointments compared to Singapore’s public sector, patients can receive timely treatment.

Major Private Healthcare Providers In Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

Some of the major private healthcare providers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia that offer health screening services include:

FAQs On Health Screening In Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

1. Why medical tourism to Kuala Lumpur?

Medical tourism is undertaken to take advantage of cheaper medical services overseas, to seek medical services that are not of sufficient quality locally, not available locally, or not available in a timely manner locally.

Singapore residents may typically choose to seek medical services in Kuala Lumpur due to the savings in medical fees, or to take advantage of the shorter wait times (e.g. the wait times for medical imaging appointments in the Singapore public health sector is reportedly around 3 months on average. For private sector Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia health screening, the waiting time for appointments may be just days or weeks.)

Less time-consuming procedures such as health screening are also ideal for combining with holidays. Thus, a family of 2 could choose to take a short trip to Kuala Lumpur and devote a day for health screening, all for the cost of an executive health screening for a single person in Singapore.

2. Will cultural factors have an impact on health screening in Malaysia?

Malaysia is a Muslim-majority but multi-cultural society. While there is no need for women to wear hijab, conservative dressing in public places is often appreciated as a sign of respect for the local customs and norms.

Ladies can feel free to request a female doctor, just like in Singapore. Also, it is the usual practice to have a female nurse in the room when seeing a male gynaecologist.

Most Singaporeans are familiar with Malaysian culture and generally, there should be no surprises.

3. Will medical imaging scans taken in Malaysia be recognised by doctors in Singapore if follow-up treatments are required?

If your health screening in Malaysia uncovers a potential health concern and you seek further medical consultation in Singapore, the local Singapore doctor may require further tests to diagnose the condition.

Nonetheless, as health screening should be done annually, you can potentially save a substantial amount by undergoing such regular screening in Malaysia and spend only on more specific follow-ups in Singapore.

4. Why should I undergo regular health screening? My GP already checks my blood pressure when I visit.

A comprehensive medical screening checks for much more than just your blood pressure, or basic health parameters like your blood glucose and cholesterol levels. Other tests typically included would be vision and hearing tests, ECG / EKG for heart health, liver profile tests, tumour markers, ultrasounds, X-rays and CT scans for heart disease and cancer, bone mineral density scans, hepatitis tests, and even STI tests. These are all useful tests that would not usually be done during a regular GP visit.

Here are our top 3 reasons why you should go for regular health screening.

Tips For Preparing For Your Malaysia Health Screening

Fasting & Other Requirements

  • Health screening often requires fasting of 8-10 hours.
  • Healthcare providers will provide you with a specific list of preparation requirements and tips for health screening, so do make sure to read them.

Scheduling & Timings

  • Ladies taking PAP smears, urine and stool tests should schedule the health screening 5-7 days after the last day of menstruation.
  • Due to fasting requirements, it would be best to book a morning timeslot for the screening. Specifically for Kuala Lumpur, you can consider mid-morning appointments to avoid the 9am peak morning traffic. Also, allocate extra travelling time in case of heavy traffic.
  • The health screening process may take ½ day or more, depending on how comprehensive the package is, and the efficiency of processes at the specific healthcare provider.

Food & Drinks

  • Due to the duration of the screening process, it is advisable to bring some water (drink only if it does not interfere with the screening).
  • You can have your meal at the healthcare facility itself, as many will have on-site food establishments or convenience stores. Prince Court for instance, even includes meal voucher as part of their health screening packages.

Bring These To Your Health Screening In Malaysia

  • Passport (if you are non-Malaysian).
  • Medical records and family history.
  • Insurance details.
  • Wear short sleeves to facilitate blood drawing and blood pressure taking.
  • Workout clothes (if you doing exercise / stress ECG test).
  • Jumper for staying warm (in case of low air conditioning settings).

Comparison Of Health Screening Cost in Kuala Lumpur Vs Singapore

Using a mid-tier priced health screening package as a basis for comparison, here’s an overview of what you might expect to pay for health screening at some popular healthcare providers in Kuala Lumpur versus those in Singapore. This tier of packages would typically include 2-3 tumour marker tests, resting & stress ECG, and 1-2 basic medical imaging tests (there may be some slight variances in the tests included for each package).

Disclaimer: Prices are indicated as of 16 Aug 2024 and are provided here for indicative comparisons only. Prices may fluctuate over time, so it is recommended to check with the healthcare provider for the most up-to-date health screening package prices.

Healthcare ProviderHealth Screening Package + Price (For Female)Health Screening Package + Price (For Male)Rating For Healthcare Provider (as taken from Google Map)
Prince Court Medical Centre (KL)RM 1,650   (Well Woman Package)  RM 1,500   (Well Man Package)4.6 stars (4,547 reviews)
Gleneagles Hospital (KL)RM 1,597   (Premium Plus Screening Female Package)  RM 1,435   (Premium Plus Screening Male Package)  4.5 stars (4,205 reviews)
Subang Jaya Medical Centre (KL)  RM 2,135 (after discount for selected credit cards)   (Female Diamond Package)  RM 1,547 (after discount for selected credit cards)   (Senior Male Platinum Package)    4.5 stars (4,652 reviews)
KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital 2 (KL)  RM 1,600 (RM311 add-on for tumour marker tests)   (Women Above 40 Package)RM 1,299 (RM264 add-on for full tumour marker tests)   (Men Above 40 Package)  4.8 stars (1,012 reviews)
AsiaMedic (Singapore)S$1,580 -includes GASTROClear stomach cancer test – CT scans included as selectable options   (Women’s Gold Health Screening Package – available only through Health365)S$1,580 -includes GASTROClear stomach cancer test – CT scans included as selectable options   (Men’s Gold Health Screening Package – available only through Health365)3.7 stars (210 reviews)
MinMed (Singapore)S$1,615   (Legacy Package Package – this pricing available through Health365)S$1,615   (Legacy Package Package – this pricing available through Health365)3.7 stars (604 reviews)

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Dr Ananda Vella

Disclaimer: 365Asia aims to provide accurate and up-to-date information, our contents do not constitute medical or any professional advice. If medical advice is required, please consult a licensed healthcare professional.