As 2nd year students prepare for their transition to UK, one of the many requirements to obtain a visa involves going for a health screening. To be specific, to check if the student is suffering from tuberculosis(TB).
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that affects the lungs and to a certain extent, other parts of the body. Biased on “Tuberculosis Fact sheet N°104”. WHO. The classic symptoms of active TB are a chronic cough with blood-containing sputum, fever, night sweats, and weight loss.
As tuberculosis is the widely accepted as the second-most common cause of death from infectious disease, the UK government has made it mandatory that Malaysians that will be staying in the UK for more than 6 months have to be tested negative before they can be cleared for their visa application.
The hospital that I visited in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, was commendably quick and with efficient staff. The receptionists were surprisingly polite and helpful, the technicians professional, and the doctors friendly and knowledgeable. Even when I had to delay my payment to withdraw some extra cash to cover for the expenses, they remained amiable and cordial as they waited. However, such excellent service came with a hefty price around nearly double the expected rate.
Though expensive, I was spared a long arduous queue and hot sweaty wait, which to some, could be said to be a well use of money.