Health Screening 101: All Your Common Questions Answered
What Does Health Screening Mean?
Health screening is a preventive measure, designed to identify diseases and conditions in their early stages, even when there are no symptoms. This approach allows for early intervention, which can lead to better health outcomes. Screening tests can identify risk factors and help guide lifestyle adjustments to prevent health issues from developing or worsening.
What Is a Health Screening Test?
A health screening test is a comprehensive medical examination designed for asymptomatic individuals to detect early signs of diseases or conditions. It encompasses a range of assessments from simple measurements such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels to advanced procedures like mammograms and colonoscopies, along with a variety of blood tests.These tests are crucial for identifying conditions like:
- high cholesterol,
- diabetes,
- liver function issues,
- and heart disease risk factors.
This offers a holistic view of an individual's health status and helps to guide preventive measures.
Is Health Screening Necessary?
Yes, it's considered an essential component of preventive healthcare. By detecting diseases early,
individuals can take steps to manage their health more effectively, potentially avoiding more severe
health issues later on. Health screening can save lives, reduce the burden of disease, and improve
quality of life.
Generally, it is advised to do health screening once every 1-3 years. This frequency may be
increased if you are at higher risk or managing a condition.
How Much Is Health Screening?
The cost of health screening in Singapore varies significantly based on the complexity and comprehensiveness of the tests included. Basic screenings may be more affordable, while comprehensive packages that include a wide range of tests can be more expensive. Prices can also vary between providers.
Screening | Price* |
---|---|
Screen For Life (Basic & Government Subsidised Screening) | From $0 |
Clinic Health Screening | From $76 |
Home Health Screening | From $109 |
The Screen for Life program is designed to be more
accessible and affordable, focusing on key screenings that cater to the broadest needs of the
population. It is subsidised by the government to encourage widespread participation in preventive
health measures. While it covers essential screenings, it might not include specific tests like
liver or kidney function tests, which are typically found in more comprehensive health screening
packages.
If you have questions, please reach out to our friendly staff.
Where To Do Health Screening in Singapore?
Singapore offers a wide range of options for health screenings, from public hospitals and
polyclinics to private clinics and specialised screening centres. Many institutions provide packages
tailored to different needs, ages, and risk factors.
At ATA Medical, our two clinics offer dedicated health screening clinics, which means you experience
both efficient health screening while being minimally exposed to acutely ill patients.
Our clinics are conveniently located in central Singapore:
- Tanjong Pagar Medical Clinic (Closest MRT: Tanjong Pagar EW15)
- Orchard Clinic (Closest MRT: Orchard Boulevard TE13)
Can I Drink Water Before Health Screening?
Drinking water is generally allowed before most health screenings. It's important to follow the specific instructions provided by the healthcare provider for accurate results.
How Long Does Health Screening Take?
The duration of a health screening session can vary from a few hours to half a day, depending on the
number of tests included in the package. Some results may be available immediately, while others
might take days or weeks.
Generally, at ATA Medical, these are our waiting times based on packages:
- Ace ($76*) to Crown ($381*): Between 30 and 60 minutes
- Royal ($667*) and above: Between 2 and 3 hours
*Prices are NETT and inclusive of GST.
The Royal package and above takes longer as there may be an ultrasound scan involved, depending on your choice.
What Should I Do Before a Health Screening?
Before a health screening, fasting may not always be necessary due to the use of specific tests like
the HbA1c for diabetes, which doesn't require fasting to provide accurate results.
Similarly, modern methods for cholesterol testing allow for accurate assessments without fasting.
This flexibility in testing procedures enhances convenience for individuals, making the screening
process more accessible and less restrictive.
Most of our health screening packages, such as Noble ($226*) and above do not require any
fasting.
What Does a Full Health Screening Include?
Health screenings typically include a combination of physical examinations, blood tests, imaging tests (like X-rays, CT Scans or Ultrasounds), and other diagnostic procedures to assess various health markers, such as cholesterol levels, blood sugar, blood pressure, and more.
Which Health Screening Is Best?
The best health screening is one that is tailored to an individual’s age, gender, medical history,
and specific risk factors. It should cover the essential tests recommended for one's demographic and
any additional screenings suggested by a doctor based on personal and family health histories.
If you are unsure of what health screening would suit you, please feel free to approach our friendly doctor for a
consultation.