You know it’s important. Yet, like many Singaporeans, you might put it off, citing reasons like “It’s too expensive” or “I’m too busy,” and decide to deal with it at a (usually unspecified) later date. What is 'it'? Your regular health checkup.

This article can’t do anything to help with your hectic work schedule. But what it can do is share a list of affordable health screening packages in Singapore and provide insights to help remove the 'price obstacle,' so you can get the health checkup you deserve.

What determines the price of a body checkup?

Two key factors determine the price of a body checkup:

1. Type of Health Screening:General health screenings aim to capture your overall health condition. At a minimum, all general health screening packages should include these four components: a medical health assessment, a physical examination (including blood pressure, BMI, and vision), a blood glucose test, and a blood cholesterol test.Specific health screenings check for particular diseases based on your unique health condition, risk factors (like family history or lifestyle), and needs. Examples include an electrocardiogram (ECG) to assess heart activity or a CT lung screen to scan for signs of lung cancer.Generally, the more tests a health screening package includes, the more expensive it is.

Where You Get the Body Checkup Done: Even if you’re screening for the same thing, the price of your body checkup can differ—sometimes significantly—based on whether it's performed at a public hospital, private hospital, or private clinic. Surprisingly, public hospitals aren't always the most budget-friendly option, which we'll explore further.

A Note on Polyclinics

Polyclinics do not typically offer comprehensive health screening packages. Instead, they primarily provide screenings for specific common chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Such tests are usually ordered by a doctor after a consultation, meaning you can't simply request specific tests like a cholesterol screening at a polyclinic without a doctor's assessment and valid medical reason.

Why Go For Body Checkups?

Still hesitant about going for a health screening even after learning about the general affordability? Perhaps understanding these key benefits will help:

1. May Save You More Money in the Long Run: Routine health screening exams can help detect risk factors and health issues early, even when there are no symptoms, allowing you to address them promptly. Besides saving you money on potentially costly treatments for advanced conditions later on, early chronic disease detection often results in better treatment options, fewer complications, and increased chances of better long-term outcomes.

2. Better Management of Existing Health Conditions: Regular body checkups help you and your healthcare team identify and track any changes in your health status. This enables appropriate and timely updates to your treatment plan, improving management outcomes and your overall quality of life.

Health Optimization: "Normal" or "within-range" test results don't always mean you’re as healthy as you could possibly be. For instance, if your blood glucose levels are in the higher range of "normal," this insight empowers you to make proactive lifestyle changes. Regular checkups then help you monitor the effectiveness of these changes, allowing you to optimize your health.

Screen for Life: the most affordable health screening package in Singapore

A maximum of S$5 per screening for eligible Singaporean citizens – that’s less than an average hawker meal these days! This is the price under the Health Promotion Board’s Screen for Life program. More specifically:

However, there's a catch: these subsidized screenings are for specific diseases only, and your eligibility depends on your age and sex.

For more details, visit the official Screen for Life website.

Price of Full-Body Checkups in Singapore

If you're unable to get the type of health screening you want through polyclinics or the Screen for Life program, don't worry. There are plenty of other affordable health screening packages available in Singapore.

Below is a price list of some of the most basic (and thus generally most affordable) full-body checkup packages at selected public hospitals, private hospitals, and private clinics. For information on add-on tests and their pricing, please refer to the respective providers' websites.

Public hospitals

Where: Tan Tock Seng Hospital

Health Screening: Core Screening Package

Cost: S$218

Assessment Items: Medical health assessment, Physical examination (BMI, blood pressure), Glucose screen, Cholesterol screen, Stool analysis, Breast examination (women)

Where: National University Hospital Singapore

Health Screening: Health Express

Cost: S$248.52

Assessment Items: Medical health assessment, Physical examination (BMI, blood pressure, vision), 12-Lead ECG, Lipid profile, Liver function, Diabetes screen, Kidney function, Urine analysis, Stool analysis, Uric acid, Full blood count

Where: Singapore General Hospital

Health Screening: Basic Chronic Disease Assessment

Cost: S$426.19

Assessment Items: Medical health assessment, Physical examination (BMI, vision, blood pressure), Diabetes screen, Lipid screen, Kidney function, Liver function, Virology (Hep B and Hep A), Full blood count, Urine analysis, Stool analysis, Chest X-ray, 12-Lead ECG

Private hospitals

Where: Raffles Medical

Health Screening: Raffles Classic

Cost: S$138

Assessment Items: Physical examination (BMI, blood pressure, vision), Cholesterol profile, Fasting blood sugar, Full blood count, Uric acid, Urine analysis, Liver function, Kidney function

Where: Mount Alvernia Hospital

Health Screening: Basic

Cost: S$277.95

Assessment Items: Medical health assessment, Physical examination (BMI, vision), Bone mineral screen, Cancer marker (colon, liver), Creatinine, Full blood count, Diabetes screen, Uric acid, Virology (Hep A and Hep B), Lipid profile, Liver function test, Stool analysis, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, Urea, Urine analysis, Resting ECG

Where: Farrer Park Hospital

Health Screening: HealthTrack Regular

Cost: S$476.74

Assessment Items: Medical assessment, Physical examination (BMI, vision), Full blood count, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Lipid profile, Kidney screen, Bone and joint screen, Diabetes screen, Liver screen, Thyroid screen, Immunology panel (Hep A, Hep B, syphilis, HIV), Urine analysis, Stool analysis, ECG, Chest X-ray

Private clinics

Where: Central Clinic

Health Screening: Basic Package

Cost: S$52.32

Assessment Items: Cholesterol screen, Diabetes screen, Uric acid, Kidney function, Liver function, Urine test

Where: NOVI Health

Health Screening: NOVI Assessment Essential (Customizable with doctor-led review & advice)

Cost: S$319 (inclusive of GST)

Assessment Items: Includes comprehensive medical assessment, physical examination (BMI, blood pressure, vision), full blood count, diabetes profile, kidney profile, bone & joint profile, cholesterol & heart health, liver profile, hepatitis profile, thyroid profile, Vitamin D test. Crucially, this is followed by an in-depth post-checkup consultation with one of our specialist doctors to help you understand your results and craft a personalized health plan.

For an even more extensive evaluation, ask about our NOVI Assessment Max.

Where: Fullerton Health

Health Screening: Executive Health Screening (Premium)

Cost: S$542.82

Assessment Items: Medical assessment, Physical examination (BMI, blood pressure, vision), Resting ECG, Lipid screen, Liver screen, Cardiac risk screen, Diabetes screen, Thyroid screen, Kidney screen, Full blood count, Hepatitis screen, Urinalysis, Stool analysis, Bone and joint screen, Tumor markers screen (liver, colon, prostate for men, and ovaries for women)