When considering a move to Malaysia, many people worry about the healthcare situation. If you’re thinking about relocating to Kuching specifically, there are some important things to know in advance. Here’s what we’ve learned from living in Kuching firsthand.
How to Use Medical Facilities in Kuching
For Minor Symptoms: Head to a Klinik (Clinic)
For everyday ailments like colds, fever, stomachaches, or minor injuries, a local clinic is more than sufficient. Expect to pay around RM30-100 for consultation and medication combined. Medication is usually dispensed on the spot, so there’s no need to find a separate pharmacy.
When our primary school-aged son visited a clinic several times for colds, the total cost including antibiotics, cough medicine, and fever medication came to around RM67-95 per visit.
24-Hour Clinics: Peace of Mind After Hours
One reassuring thing about Kuching is that several clinics operate 24 hours a day. If someone suddenly develops a fever in the middle of the night or your child falls ill on a weekend, you’re covered. Search “Klinik 24 Hours” on Google Maps and you’ll find several options.
Here are four well-known ones:
- Klinik Astana 24 Jam — Petra Jaya, along Jalan Astana
- Klinik Kotaraya Satok 24HRS — Jalan Kulas, Kampung Bandarshah
- Valiant Medical Clinic — Batu Kawa, Pines Square
- U.n.i Klinik Metrocity 24 Jam — Jalan Matang, Petra Jaya
It’s worth knowing where your nearest 24-hour clinic is before you actually need one. Always bring your passport when visiting.
For Hospitalisation or Specialist Treatment: Private Hospitals
Kuching has four major private hospitals, all with 24-hour emergency services.
| Hospital | Key Features |
| Borneo Medical Centre (BMC) | Tertiary medical centre equipped with MRI, PET, CT and more. MSQH (Malaysian Society for Quality in Health) accredited. Healthcare Asia Awards 2023 Best Medical Tourism Provider. |
| Kuching Specialist Hospital (KPJ) | Kuching branch of the KPJ Group, which operates 30 hospitals across Malaysia. |
| Timberland Medical Centre | Named Best Medical Tourism Provider in Sarawak. Acquired by IHH Healthcare, one of Malaysia’s largest medical groups, in 2024. |
| Normah Medical Specialist Centre | Non-profit private hospital under the Sarawak State Government. JCI (Joint Commission International) accredited for the 5th consecutive time. Selected for Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2025. |
A Word of Caution on Costs
I once visited a private hospital with what turned out to be a straightforward case of gastroenteritis. The total came to RM300 — for roughly five minutes of consultation plus medication. In hindsight, a clinic would have been perfectly sufficient.
Private hospitals offer excellent facilities and specialist expertise, but for mild symptoms like a cold or stomach bug, a clinic is far more cost-effective. Use each type of facility according to your situation.
Also note that some hospitals have a separate reception for international patients. Always bring your passport when visiting.
Health Screenings
Each of the four private hospitals offers health screening packages.
Borneo Medical Centre (BMC)
| Package | Price | Key Contents |
| Basic Special | RM 140 | Consultation, medical report, physical exam, 64-item blood panel (kidney, liver, blood sugar, lipids, blood count, Hepatitis B, thyroid, rheumatoid factor, tumour marker CEA, VDRL, urinalysis, etc.) |
| Basic Essential | RM 220 | Basic Special + ECG + chest X-ray / lung function test |
| Supreme | RM 450 | Basic Essential + abdominal ultrasound + Hepatitis A + thyroid Free T4 + tumour markers (gender-specific) |
| Executive | RM 840 | Supreme + hearing test (audiometry) + treadmill ECG by specialist |
Add-on options available (13 items), including:
- Mammography: RM180
- Individual tumour markers (AFP, CA125, CA15.3, CA19.9, PSA): RM20 each
- Bone density scan (DEXA): RM164
- Ultrasound breast: RM155 / Kidney, ureter, bladder (KUB): RM130
- HbA1c (Diabetic Profile): RM30 / HIV Screening: RM20 / Hepatitis C: RM30
- H. pylori antibody: RM25 / Stool occult blood: RM15
Source: Borneo Medical Centre official website
Kuching Specialist Hospital (KPJ)
| Package | Price | Key Contents |
| Deluxe Executive | RM 299 | Doctor consultation, physical exam, ECG, chest X-ray, HbA1c, comprehensive blood panel (Hepatitis A/B, blood group, kidney, bone metabolism, lipids, liver, glucose, uric acid, thyroid, rheumatoid factor, VDRL), urinalysis |
| Elite Executive | RM 378 | All Deluxe contents + consultation by Specialist + VDRL |
The main difference between Deluxe and Elite is whether your consultation is with a general medical officer or a specialist physician — a difference of RM79.
Add-on options include: body composition analysis, tumour markers (male/female), Hepatitis C, VDRL, Vitamin D, H. pylori, HIV, stool occult blood, echocardiogram, stress test, bone mineral density test.
Source: Kuching Specialist Hospital official website
Timberland Medical Centre
| Package | Price | Key Contents |
| EHS1 | RM 198 | Physical exam, ECG, chest X-ray, blood panel (kidney, liver, glucose, lipids, blood count), urinalysis, Hepatitis B, thyroid, uric acid, 2 tumour markers |
| EHS2 | RM 658 | EHS1 + abdominal ultrasound + treadmill ECG |
| PHS | RM 843 | EHS2 + lung function test + urinary tract ultrasound + HIV |
Add-on options available (10 items), including:
- Blood type: RM11
- Tumour markers — ovarian (CA125), breast (CA15.3), pancreatic (CA19.9): RM20 each
- Prostate tumour marker (PSA): RM39
- H. pylori: RM44 / Hepatitis C: RM54 / Vitamin D: RM220
Source: Timberland Medical Centre official website / Medisata
Normah Medical Specialist Centre
| Package | Price | Key Contents |
| Basic | RM 228 | Blood pressure & pulse, height/weight/BMI, visual acuity, diabetes screening, haematology, blood grouping, lipid profile, liver & kidney function, Hepatitis B, VDRL, urinalysis (FEME), TSH |
| Superior | RM 488 | Basic + ESR (inflammation marker), tumour markers AFP & CEA, stool occult blood, Free T4 (thyroid) |
| Senior Executive | RM 798 | Superior + treadmill ECG (Stress ECG) |
| Stroke Risk Screening | RM 788 | Stroke-focused screening |
| Heart Risk Screening | RM 1,388 | Cardiac-focused screening |
| Men’s Health | RM 525 | Male-specific package |
| Men Elite | RM 3,130 | Comprehensive male package with specialist review |
| Women Elite | RM 3,188 | Comprehensive female package with specialist review |
| College / Pre-University | RM 85 | For students |
| MM2H Health Screening | RM 168 | For MM2H visa applicants only |
Source: Normah Medical Specialist Centre official website
Gender-Specific Add-Ons
Most hospitals allow you to add gender-specific tests to your basic package. For women, options typically include ovarian, breast, and cervical cancer screening. For men, prostate-related tests are available. Ask about add-ons when making your appointment.
* Package contents and prices are subject to change. Please confirm directly with each hospital before booking.
How Quickly Do You Get Results?
One pleasant surprise about health screenings in Kuching’s private hospitals is that results are usually available the next day.
I’ve personally had health screenings at both Borneo Medical Centre and Kuching Specialist Hospital (KPJ). Both times, I walked in without an appointment and was able to return the following day for a consultation with a doctor to go over my results.
Note that premium packages involving a treadmill ECG or abdominal ultrasound may require advance booking. For basic packages, walk-ins are generally accepted.
Health screenings at these hospitals are also available for school enrolment requirements and long-term visa applications such as S-MM2H.
In an Emergency
Key Numbers to Remember
| Service | Number |
| Emergency / Police / Fire | 999 |
Important: Government Ambulances Go to Public Hospitals
Calling 999 will dispatch a government ambulance — but these are typically required to take patients to public hospitals, not private ones. If you need to be taken to a specific private hospital, call that hospital’s emergency line directly.
| Hospital | Number |
| Borneo Medical Centre (BMC) | General) 082-507 333 |
| Kuching Specialist Hospital（KPJ） | General）082-365-777 Emergency）082-365-030 WhatsApp) 014-305-2692 |
| Timberland Medical Centre | General）082-234-466 Emergency）082-234-991 WhatsApp)013-801-1855 |
| Normah Medical Specialist Centre | General）082-440-055 Emergency）082-311-999 WhatsApp) 019-865 2700 |
Ambulance Costs
Government ambulances (999) to public hospitals are generally free of charge. Private hospital ambulances are paid services, with fees in the region of RM200, depending on distance and provider. If hospitalisation follows, your Medical Card insurance may cover this cost.
Road Etiquette
One thing that struck us living in Kuching is how often you see ambulances on the road — and how quickly other drivers pull over to let them through. It happens immediately and without hesitation, every time. It’s a small thing, but it reflects a real civic awareness and respect for emergency services that we find genuinely impressive.
Insurance in Malaysia: Mostly for Hospitalisation
Malaysia’s private health insurance (Medical Card) is primarily designed to cover in-patient treatment — meaning hospitalisation, surgery, and related costs. Outpatient visits to clinics and health screenings are generally not covered and must be paid out of pocket.
The mindset here is: pay for day-to-day care yourself, and use insurance as a safety net for serious illness or hospitalisation.
Summary
| Situation | What to Do |
| Cold or minor illness | Visit a local clinic (approx. RM30-100, self-pay) |
| After hours / urgent | Use a 24-hour clinic |
| Hospitalisation / specialist care | One of the four private hospitals (all 24hr emergency) |
| Health screening | From RM140 — walk-ins accepted for basic packages |
| Insurance | Covers hospitalisation; most outpatient care is self-pay |
| Emergency | Call 999 or the hospital’s emergency line directly |
Final Note
We hope this information gives you a clearer picture of what healthcare looks like in Kuching.
Kuching’s private medical sector is well-developed and reliable. A little preparation goes a long way — knowing your nearest clinic and having emergency numbers saved in your phone can make all the difference when it matters most.
* All prices and package details listed in this article are subject to change. We recommend confirming directly with each hospital or clinic before your visit.
