MoH or private sector?
 

Hi all,

I would require some help in certain decisions that I would like to make for my future. Currently, I am going to start my uni in Pharmacy soon and have been thinking whether or not I should pursue a scholarship with MoH (Health Merit Scholarship/Award) if they were to offer me this year? (i.e is the route of a MoH scholar difficult?) Or would I be better off working in the private sector, for companies such as Novartis and GSK?

I've heard that having a scholarship/job in MoH or any civil service will guarantee an iron-clad position if you are capable and hardworking whereas in the private sector you need to work your ass off and your job position is not guaranteed.

I just would not want to regret in future for taking the wrong path and hoping someone could advise me rgd my decision.

Hope there are any experienced pharmacists/health care professionals here who had been through either routes can advice me

Thank you

Most ministry jobs are more or less iron clad regardless of whether you are a scholar or not as long as you don't screw it up big time or get into some disciplinary sh.it

Health merit scholarship is more of a sponsorship program than a real talent scholarship per se. No doubt it will help slightly in getting a better CEP compared to a typical NUS fresh grad, but if you are thinking this is going to be your ticket to guaranteed fast progression to elite ranks, then forget about it.

Whether scholar or not, remember that you are a civil/ public servant and your career development will go beyond your chosen pharmaceutical specialisation (more so if you're a scholar as you'll be involved in policy related work as well). Same as any other Ministry or Stat Board career.

If you do get your scholarship or sponsorship, expect to have higher expectations from your mentors as well as peers to perform and deliver.

Thank you for your opinions, i will keep them in mind.
However i wanna ask, as quoted by the 1st user who said that the health scholarship isnt a talent scholarship but more of a sponsorship. I've read and heard that the health scholarship is as prestigious as a PSC scholarship and gives u almost or equal status as a psc scholar. Could you correct me if i'm wrong about this?

No they are vastly different. One is on track to be a healthcare professional (training you to be a leader in it), while the other is on track to be a policymaker (rising to be PS level). So of course PSC scholarship is much more prestigious.

Join the healthcare profession only if you have the passion, not because of career development.

Huh, specialists will never be above generalists...

PSC remains the most prestigious regardless.

don't be so certain you can get into these brand name companies.