What is healthcare in Malaysia like?

Facilities and Health Information

Medical facilities and services are adequate in the larger cities, where you can find Western-trained doctors. The U.S. Embassy can provide a list of English-speaking doctors and hospitals upon request. Psychological and psychiatric medical and counseling services are limited. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars or more. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services, although major credit cards are acceptable at some hospitals in larger cities.

Malaysian ambulance attendants do not have training equivalent to U.S. standards. Callers to Malaysia's "999" emergency number (equivalent to dialing 911 in the United States) are connected to the Red Crescent (a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies), and patients are directed to whichever hospital the dispatcher chooses. If you are staying in Malaysia for a long time, and you have known health problems, you should investigate private ambulance services in the area and provide family and close contacts with the direct telephone number(s) of the service you prefer.

Air quality in Malaysia is acceptable most of the time. However, when Malaysia and nearby countries burn vegetation, especially from March through June and during September and October, air quality can range from “unhealthy for sensitive groups” to “unhealthy.”

Drinking Water Source - % of rural population improved

98.5%

Drinking Water Source - % of total population unimproved

0.4%

Drinking Water Source - % of urban population improved

100%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.5%

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

1.8

People Living with HIV/AIDS

100,000

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

1.2

Diseases - note

highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds

Sanitation Facility Access - % of total population unimproved

4.3%

Sanitation Facility Access - % of urban population improved

96.1%

Sanitation Facility Access - % of rural population improved

94.6%

Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

intermediate

Food or Waterborne Disease (s)

bacterial diarrhea

Vectorborne Disease (s)

dengue fever

Water contact disease (s)

leptospirosis

Disability Access In Malaysia

Accessibility

While in Malaysia, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what they find in the United States. The 2008 Persons with Disabilities Act recognizes the rights of persons with disabilities to enjoy the benefits of public transport, housing, education, employment, and health care. However, there is no penalty for those who do not comply with its provisions. For example, there are by-laws to compel new buildings to provide access for persons with disabilities but also loopholes that allow local authorities to exempt compliance. The Malaysian government does not mandate accessibility to transportation for persons with disabilities, and few older public facilities are adapted for such persons. New government buildings are generally outfitted with a full range of facilities for persons with disabilities.

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