Healthcare in Malaysia: Hospitals and Health Insurance
Healthcare in Malaysia
With a population of just over 30.3 million in 2015, Malaysia ranks 44th in the world by population and 66th by total area. The official language of Malaysia is Malaysian. The currency is the Malaysian ringgit.
Malaysia ranks 49th in world health ranking per WHO. In 2014, the total expenditure on health per person was $1,040, which is 4.2% of the GDP. Malaysian males have a life expectancy at birth of 73 years, and females can expect to live 77 years. There are 1.2 physicians per 1,000 people in Malaysia as compared with 2.56 physicians per 1,000 people in the United States.
Hospitals in Malaysia
The Ministry of Health oversees and funds (through line-item budgets) a wide network of Malaysian clinics and hospitals. Public hospitals (about 75% of total beds) have excellent equipment and facilities, but a shortage of staff compared to patients, leading to long waits. To battle this problem, doctors are required to complete three years of service in a public hospital. In addition, to better serve those in rural areas, the government has invested in the infrastructure through a system called “telehealth,” connecting doctors in remote areas to specialists in the city when they need an emergency consult.
Private hospitals, equipped with modern diagnostics and imaging equipment, as well as private dental and medical clinics are available for those with cash or private insurance. In fact, Malaysia is a center for medical tourism in the areas of cardiology, ophthalmology, dentistry, dermatology, and plastic surgery.
Health Insurance in Malaysia
Malaysia has a two-tier system of healthcare: a government-run universal system and a private system. The universal system is funded through citizens paying a percentage of their salaries in taxes. These citizens and their families then have free access (or very low user fees) to medical services at public facilities. Private insurance is common for those who wish to avoid long waits for treatment and to have more personalized attention. Numerous companies offer private insurance, with a variety of payment options and benefits, from emergency only to comprehensive coverage.
Travel (International) Health Insurance in Malaysia
Travel, or international, health insurance provides comprehensive medical coverage when traveling outside of one’s home country. Travel health insurance is different from travel insurance, as the latter may provide only emergency coverage but not full medical coverage.
Travelers should check with their health insurance provider, as they may already have an option of international health coverage. If they do not, they can purchase travel health insurance from their home country or the destination country.
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