All the countries in Southeast Asia have their appeal: Vietnam is known for its food, Thailand for its islands, and Bali for beaches, surfing, and spiritual connection. But Malaysia is setting a standard in something that many nomads—of all ages—may be in need of: medical testing and services.
At 70 and 71, my wife, Kat, and I are blessed with good health and genetics. In 2019, we left the US with a one-way ticket to Spain, and 43 countries later, we have never looked back. Along the way, we have had needs for medical attention, in two instances, emergency services requiring an ambulance. In Portugal, the cost of the ride and several hours in the ER was $114. A few years after, COVID hit my wife in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and another paramedic ride and more hours in the hospital totaled about $270.
One of our main incentives for visiting Malaysia was Kat's suspicion that she needed cataract surgery. And it is quite reasonable there as the medical tourism industry brings in an estimated $250 million to the country annually.
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The capital city of Kuala Lumpur is the focal point of medical testing in the country, and several hospitals and clinics offer a menu of different services.
Our original plan was to go to one of the largest hospitals in town, since there were numerous expat reports on how good they were. But after making our appointment, we started shopping around and realized there was no need for a “hospital” since there was a huge choice of clinics that offered testing of all sorts—for much less money.
After doing our own research and reading the consensus of the masses, we settled on Blessono Medical, which offered the best combination of prices and five-star reviews. They offered testing specifically for men, as well as women, then drilled down to their senior programs, since we have different needs and ailments than those that are younger.
The first step was an ultrasound (sonogram), starting at the tips of my toes, up through my ankles, and along my thigh, specifically focused on the femoral vein, an area prone to blood clots. Deep vein thrombosis can develop anywhere, but the legs, the heart, the internal organs, and the neck (jugular veins) are some likely targets. Our thyroids and kidneys were scanned, and for me, my testicular area as well. The good news is that problems are fairly easy to see in formation, and knowing that can save your life or lessen the likelihood of a stroke or aneurysm.

Over the years we have had scans of certain internal organs, but this was the first one that covered one end to the other.
The urine and blood tests came next, including all the appropriate blood panels as well as what is known as “cancer markers,” which are pre-indicators of possible problems. I lost count of how many vials of blood they drew, but it seemed they could have filled a milk carton!
Last on the list was something I had never done before: a cardio ECG and Echocardiogram on a bicycle. I’ve seen that stress test on TV and videos, usually on a treadmill, and I was always curious to see how my heart reacted, even though I never had any problematic symptoms. As I sat on my bike seat, I watched a TV projection of a biker on a ride. Up, down, the pedal tension changed, emulating what was on the screen, and the result was that the technician could see how my heart responded to increases and decreases of exertion.
After our tests, we enjoyed the customary goodies to replenish our drawn liquids and get some sugar back into our blood. Kat and I both agreed that the tests were as thorough and inclusive as anything we could ask for, and neither of us could come up with anything lacking. Before leaving, we made an appointment to return and go over the results with a doctor, but that was optional. For anyone with a clear and clean report, they could bypass that step.
And, of course, we had to pay up: just under $500 for each of us!
(For comparison, the average cost of an ECG alone in the US is about $1,500—which was just one small part of the entire suite of tests we had done.)
A few days later, our emailed tests arrived, all 12 pages, and they were incredibly revealing. It was written in easy-to-understand language, and most of it was clear and without a lot of jargon.
But our return visit with the doctor was the icing on the cake, as she spoke perfect English (the unofficial/official second language in Malaysia) and spent 45 minutes on each of our reports. She explained what everything meant, and avoided any scare tactics or solicitations for further testing. She suggested some areas to keep an eye on, like the typical cholesterol and blood pressure, and specifically for me, liver and kidney functions, and glucose levels.

As senior nomads who write about our travels, one of the most common questions we get is about medical and health services. Over the years, we have done dental implants in Croatia, I got a mouth bridge in Mexico, and we have had skin cancer screening and replaced eyeglasses in several countries.
And the level of service we experienced in Malaysia was one of the best experiences we have had… For one of the lowest costs!
The cataracts that Kat was originally concerned about are still in its early stages, but will need to be done eventually. Whether that happens in Malaysia, Thailand, or Greece (three we have checked out) remains to be seen, but it is guaranteed it will be a fraction of US prices and without all the paperwork and insurance hassles.
Moving overseas really is good for your health, in more ways than one.
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By submitting your email address, you will receive a free subscription to IL Postcards and special offers from International Living and our affiliates. You can unsubscribe at any time, and we encourage you to read more about our Privacy Policy.