I am concerned about my health. Can I request for a medical imaging (including CT) scan at a healthcare facility in Singapore?

According to the MOH, for national health screening initiatives, a referral from a medical practitioner is not required. This is because healthcare facilities that wish to provide health screening for national programmes are first required by Health Promotion Board to have systems in place to ensure that patients receive timely follow-ups on the screening results from the appropriate medical practitioner(s). For any other health screening, a referral from a medical practitioner is required.

You should confirm with the healthcare provider if a referral is required for your desired scan.

Why is medical imaging including CT scan important for health screening or early detection of diseases?

Many serious conditions are “silent” and do not present any symptoms in the early stages. Such diseases may require a variety of tests to be detected and diagnosed. Medical imaging is a vital component of the set of medical examinations needed.

Some of the more affordable health screening packages allows me a choice of 1 or 2 medical scans. Which one should I choose.

Different medical imaging scans help to detect different medical conditions. Generally, you can consider selecting those for conditions that you are most at risk for (e.g. family history of the condition or other risk factors).

You should consult the doctor to ascertain the choice that is most suitable for you.

Is radiation exposure from medical imaging scans harmful?

Certain examinations such as X-ray, CT scan, mammography, bone mineral densitometry, and PET scan will expose the patient to low doses of radiation. With current technology, radiation risk from medical imaging is sufficiently low to not cause harm.

Female patients who are pregnant, or for whom if pregnancy is a possibility, should inform the attending doctor, radiographer or nurse.

Can I still do a CT Scan if I am allergic to the contrast dye?

Contrast dyes are used in many types of CT scans to enhance the image quality. However, about 1 in 10,000 may be allergic to the contrast dye. If you have an allergy, your should inform your doctor (who orders the scan) and he / she will discuss with the radiologist whether you can go without contrast for your scan.