To be fair UK used to be like this in the 80s and 90s before they implement working rights, European working hours, new deal etc. This was from a consultant based in UK who worked in SGH previously. It is not safe for patients if doctors are overworked and TATT. Singapore just stretch their manpower rather than allocating the right amount of doctors to patients. Hence you still get 36 hours shift and ridiculous working hours. Maybe the government is trying to cut cost. Pay hasn't increase much at all in recent times when adjusted for inflation. In UK, working that kinda hours is deemed not safe for both doctors and patients and the health board gets punished badly if they fail to abide by the working guidelines. In singapore they blame it on culture. It is rather the backwards mentality and fear of speaking up that makes the working culture what it is today.