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Children's health in Kuala Lumpur

In Kuala Lumpur, healthcare is very good, but nothing is free: health insurance is the first thing to settle before arriving. After that, everything happens in large English-speaking private hospitals, where you see a paediatrician without going through a GP. Here are verified addresses, the embassy's official list and what changes for vaccines.

Verified on 30 October 2026

How healthcare works in Malaysia

Two worlds coexist: a public network that is cheap for Malaysians, and modern, English-speaking, fast private hospitals where almost all expat families are treated. In both cases, everything is paid for.

Good to know

  • Expat families have no public cover: without insurance covering care, hospitalisation and repatriation, access to care may be refused, even in an emergency. The embassy never pays these costs. Source
  • Public hospitals treat foreigners, but at a much higher non-resident rate and with a deposit required on admission; the Ministry of Health has tightened these collection rules. Source
  • Private care is the norm for expats: Gleneagles, Pantai and Prince Court are among the best-regarded hospitals, with English-speaking teams, modern equipment and short waits. Source
  • Choose a policy that covers hospitalisation for tropical diseases (dengue in particular), not just accidents; if a baby is planned, check maternity cover and the waiting period. Source
  • To keep French cover, you can join the Caisse des Français de l'étranger (CFE), alone or topped up with private insurance. Source

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Finding a paediatrician and following up the children

No family doctor to register with and no card to apply for: in the private sector, you book a paediatrician directly, in a local clinic or at a hospital. The simplest is to pick one on arrival, close to home.

Good to know

  • The big private hospitals have a paediatrics department where you book directly, with no GP referral; paediatricians there follow babies, give vaccines and do check-ups. Source
  • Bring each child's French health record and vaccination booklet: they may be requested and serve as the reference for the local paediatrician to complete the schedule. Source
  • For long-term treatment, bring a prescription written in INN (the molecule name), translated into English, and medicines in their original packaging. Source
  • Keep a copy of your insurance certificate and ask the insurer whether your chosen hospital offers direct billing: otherwise, you pay upfront.

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Emergencies and children's hospitals

One number, 999, for ambulance, police and fire. In practice, families go straight to the nearest private hospital's emergency department, open 24/7; each hospital also has its own ambulance line.

Good to know

  • 999 is the number for medical emergencies, police and fire in Malaysia. When calling, give the location, the nature of the incident and the number you are calling from. Source
  • Outside consular opening hours, and only for a serious emergency (accident, arrest, assault, death), the French embassy has an on-call line published on its website. Source
  • Outside Kuala Lumpur, there is no SAMU-type emergency service: on trips, locate the nearest hospital in advance. Source
  • For any lasting fever, see a doctor quickly: dengue is endemic in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, and anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen, aspirin) must be avoided until it is ruled out. Source

Addresses

  • Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur

    Emergency

    282, 286 & 288 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur

    Private hospital on Jalan Ampang; its emergency department runs day and night and handles paediatric emergencies.

    Website +603 4141 3131 Source

  • Prince Court Medical Centre

    Emergency

    39 Jalan Kia Peng, 50450 Kuala Lumpur

    Private hospital near the Petronas Towers, 24/7 emergency department and ambulance.

    Website +603 2160 0999 Source

  • Sunway Medical Centre, urgences enfants

    Emergency

    5 Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya

    The first private hospital in Malaysia to open, in 2023, an emergency department dedicated to babies, children and teenagers, alongside the 24/7 adult A&E; in Bandar Sunway, near Petaling Jaya.

    Website +603 5566 8888 Source

  • Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur

    Emergency

    8 Jalan Bukit Pantai, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur

    Private hospital in Bangsar, handy for families in Bangsar, Damansara and Pantai Hills; dedicated emergency and ambulance line.

    Website +603 2296 0999 Source

  • Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL)

    Hospital

    Jalan Pahang, 50586 Kuala Lumpur

    The country's main public referral hospital; foreigners pay the non-resident rate.

    Website Source

  • University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)

    Hospital

    Lembah Pantai, 59100 Kuala Lumpur

    Semi-public university hospital in Lembah Pantai, near Bangsar.

    Website Source

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French-speaking doctors

The French embassy publishes a list of medical practitioners, updated in October 2026, but it is very short: three GPs, only one of them French-speaking, the embassy's medical adviser. It is provided for information, without engaging the administration's responsibility, and the choice of practitioner is free. No public directory of French-speaking paediatricians, therapists or dentists exists in Kuala Lumpur to date: for these, the Kuala Lumpur Accueil network and parent groups remain the best lead.

Good to know

  • The embassy list only includes practitioners known to the post; the two other GPs listed consult in English and Malay. Source
  • The embassy's medical adviser also offers teleconsultations, handy for a first opinion in French. Source
  • In private hospitals, consultations are in English; the UK also publishes a list of English-speaking doctors and facilities in Malaysia, useful to find a specialist. Source

Addresses

  • Dr Sophie Van Aerde

    General practitioner

    Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya

    GP and the embassy's medical adviser, consults at Aseana O&G Specialist Clinic (The Curve) on weekday mornings, and by teleconsultation; speaks French, English and Malay.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN, MS

    Website Source

  • Dr Navindra Nageswaran

    General practitioner

    Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur

    GP listed by the embassy, Global Doctors Specialist Centre (Hospital), in Mont Kiara; consults in English and Malay.

    Languages spoken : EN, MS

    Website Source

  • Dr Malkit Singh

    General practitioner

    Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur

    GP listed by the embassy, Klinik Segara, Vista Tower; consults in English and Malay.

    Languages spoken : EN, MS

    Source

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Pregnancy and maternity

Pregnancy care is with an obstetrician-gynaecologist, almost always at the private hospital where you will give birth. Hospitals sell maternity packages: compare them with what your insurance covers.

Good to know

  • Statutory maternity leave is 98 consecutive days, including rest days and public holidays; paternity leave is 7 consecutive days. Source
  • The birth of a French child is declared to the embassy's consular section, in addition to local registration, to obtain the French birth certificate and then the passport. Source
  • Pregnant women or those planning a pregnancy should see a doctor before travelling to an area where Zika circulates, and protect themselves strictly from mosquitoes. Source
  • BCG is given at birth in Malaysia: ask the paediatrician to record it in your baby's French health record. Source

Addresses

  • Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur, obstétrique et gynécologie

    Maternity

    282 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur

    Pregnancy care and delivery, with a paediatrics department in the same hospital.

    Website Source

  • Prince Court Medical Centre, maternité

    Maternity

    39 Jalan Kia Peng, 50450 Kuala Lumpur

    Central private hospital offering maternity packages.

    Website Source

  • Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, maternité

    Maternity

    8 Jalan Bukit Pantai, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur

    Maternity, antenatal care and paediatrics in Bangsar.

    Website Source

  • Sunway Medical Centre, santé de la femme

    Maternity

    5 Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya

    Women's health centre, maternal and fetal medicine and a breastfeeding support centre, in Bandar Sunway.

    Website Source

  • Hospital Tunku Azizah (hôpital des femmes et des enfants)

    Maternity

    Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur

    Public national referral hospital for obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatrics, opened in 2019; non-resident rates for foreigners.

    Source

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Pharmacies and medicines

Pharmacies are everywhere, in every mall and neighbourhood, often open late. The big chains also sell baby products, sunscreen and repellent.

Good to know

  • The most widespread chains are Guardian, Watsons, Caring, Alpro (AA Pharmacy) and BIG Pharmacy; a qualified pharmacist advises on minor ailments. Source
  • Medicines sold in Malaysia must be registered with the national pharmaceutical regulator (NPRA): check that a regular treatment is authorised before bringing it. Source
  • Bring your medicines in their original packaging, with a prescription or medical certificate translated into English, and never buy medicines on the street (risk of counterfeits). Source
  • Think INN: paracetamol is sold as paracetamol or local brands, and pharmacists find the equivalent of a French medicine from the molecule name. Source
  • At night or at weekends, private hospital emergency departments, open 24/7, take over for a consultation and prescription. Source

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Vaccines: what changes

The Malaysian schedule resembles the French one, with a few differences, and the tropical climate adds vaccines to discuss with the paediatrician.

Good to know

  • Before leaving, every child should be up to date with the French schedule, in particular diphtheria, tetanus, polio, whooping cough and measles. Source
  • The Malaysian national programme includes BCG, hepatitis B, DTaP, Hib, polio, MMR, pneumococcal and HPV; BCG is given at birth, whereas it is no longer routine in France. Source
  • The Japanese encephalitis vaccine is only part of the programme in Sarawak; for the peninsula, it is discussed depending on stays in rural areas. Source
  • Additional vaccines recommended for travellers depending on length of stay: hepatitis A, typhoid, BCG for under-15s on long stays, rabies for young children in rural areas, Japanese encephalitis and, in some cases, dengue. Source
  • Rotavirus, chickenpox, annual flu and meningococcal vaccines are offered as options by private paediatricians. Source
  • Malaria is present in Malaysia, but preventive treatment is only needed outside urban and coastal areas. Source

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These landmarks do not replace the advice of a health professional. In an emergency, call the local emergency number shown above.

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Kuala Lumpur will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Ambassade de France en Malaisie, liste de notoriété médicale
  2. 2 Ambassade de France, liste des hôpitaux et cliniques (mars 2026)
  3. 3 France Diplomatie, Malaisie : santé
  4. 4 Ambassade de France, en cas d'urgence
  5. 5 Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur, urgences
  6. 6 Sunway Medical Centre, urgences enfants
  7. 7 Pantai, calendrier vaccinal en Malaisie
  8. 8 malaysia.gov.my, droit du travail

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