Whenever you feel uneasy and weak, what comes to your mind first? For many, it’s instinctive to find relief by visiting a nearby pharmacy and obtaining medication recommended by a pharmacist, even without a doctor’s prescription. It is only when the medicines do not work that we go see a doctor. Sometimes people even prefer to undergo a whole-body checkup before seeing a doctor know what is wrong with them. This trend has gained popularity in recent times.
With easy access to the internet, it has become evident that anyone is tempted to find solutions to every physical problem on their own. They become so blindly devoted to every content found on the internet that they do not even consider it necessary to consult a doctor for any health problem.
Because of this, for some time now, the number of patients who visit a hospital for whole-body checkups is increasing. They do not even try to understand whether it is necessary for them or not.
Is a whole-body checkup really the solution?
General physician Dr Lochan Karki says that there is a tendency to go for whole-body checkups without a doctor’s consultation. He believes this is a wrong practice and is not a solution to all diseases.
“Whole-body checkup is not practised anywhere in the world, but done in Nepal and the business is booming in hospitals,” says Karki who is also the former president of the Nepal Physicians Association.
He clarifies that the term whole-body checkup is being misused in Nepal and even the experts are spreading misunderstanding among people.
“What’s being done in the name of whole-body checkup is, not the checkup of one’s whole-body but it is a general checkup. A whole-body checkup must include the medical examination of the body from head to toe, which cannot be achieved,” says Karki. “In spite of knowing this, some laboratories and hospitals are bringing packages and are misleading the general public.”
According to him, it is better to have a yearly blood test and urine test to know if there is any problem in the body.
However, it is important to note that opting for a comprehensive whole-body checkup, as offered by hospitals or laboratories, can sometimes lead to an increased financial burden. Additionally, in certain instances, individuals may undergo unnecessary tests as part of these checkup packages.
“It is also important to know what this test is before the health checkup,” says Karki.
Dr Abashesh Bhandari, a hepatologist and gastroenterologist, says it is not right to promote the term whole-body checkup. A package including heart ECG, diabetes, blood pressure, urine, general video x-ray and chest x-ray is called a general checkup. But he argues that it is not right to call it a whole-body checkup.
“A whole-body examination in hospitals is a general examination of the body, which helps to detect symptoms in the early stages to some extent. It cannot fully examine the body,” says Bhandari.
Patients visit the doctor with a whole-body checkup report
Most people go to the doctor and present the report given to them by a lab.
“We used to advise the medical test according to the problem when the patient is checked at the OPD first. But these days’ patients come to visit with big files of medical tests,” Karki says. “This might mean, unnecessary tests have already been done and the necessary ones have been missed.”
Even though the whole-body checkup package is offered by the hospital, doctors do not recommend it. According to Karki, Nepali hospitals have imitated this trend from countries like India and Singapore.
“In Western countries, without a doctor’s consultation hospitals don’t offer any kind of medical test and it is necessary to spread awareness to stop this unnecessary practice,” says Karki.
Bhandari clarifies that patients are not advised to undergo full body checkups. Instead, the doctors focus on family history and specific health concerns. Explaining this can be difficult, as some patients insist on comprehensive examinations. Some patients have even sought alternative opinions, questioning the doctor’s necessity.
Examination of the disease only after consulting a doctor
Karki recommends consulting a doctor before undergoing any health checks or testing for diseases.
“It is the doctor’s responsibility to identify the relevant symptoms for accurate diagnosis,” he says. “Following a thorough examination based on these symptoms, the doctor can diagnose the disease and these medical tests’ fee range from Rs 800 to Rs 2000. This approach also helps in avoiding unnecessary expenses.”
According to General Practitioner Dr Anam Pyakurel, the whole-body checkup is different from the health checkup which is done after taking a specific problem.
Giving an example, he says, “If there is unnecessary cell growth indicating cancer in the body, many external symptoms can be observed. Instead of directly going to the doctor with these symptoms, people often get urine tests, blood tests, kidney tests, and heart tests done to see if everything appears normal. This can lead to confusion and delays in treatment.”
Therefore, after the age of 50, it is necessary to undergo cancer screening, diabetes testing, blood pressure monitoring, urine examination, assessment of blood condition, and for women, mammography for breast cancer detection. However, it is wise to seek consultation for any health issues, as advised by Pyakurel.
Nephrologist Dr Nishant Acharya also suggests consulting the relevant physician for disease diagnosis.
“If there is high blood pressure or diabetes, it can have a significant impact on the brain, including the kidney. Therefore, it is advisable to undergo kidney function tests, cholesterol tests, and blood tests every year, whether you are a healthy individual or dealing with a chronic illness. It is essential to follow the doctor’s advice and practice collaborative testing.”
This story was translated from the original Nepali version and edited for clarity and length.
