How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

UK doable if you tick the boxes and play the game. Most specialties attainable, maybe neurosurg, cardio are difficult. Know Singaporeans in run through surgical programmes, radiology etc

To the poster, try IMU, or those UK malaysian unis. If not try India. Pass PLAB work in UK. I'm a UK grad working in UK. Next time probably even harder to specialise in sg, I wouldn't think it's wise to go med school tbh if want to practise in sg. Think about alternative careers

How's life in the UK? Was thinking of moving there...quite done with the rat race

Originally Posted by Unregistered

How's life in the UK? Was thinking of moving there...quite done with the rat race

are you a local grad?

only pgy1 atm, definitely better work life balance compared to my friends who went back. even in my worst surgical rotation I still worked less than my sg friends
27 days leave (excluding public hol), increases more per year in NHS, max 12.5h shift, absolute max 72h work week
medical jobs 9-5, surgical about 8-530, no calls. either 3 x 12.5h shift Fri-Sun or 4 x 12.5 shift Mon-thur
slower pace of life (except London), good outdoors
pay similar to sg until consultant level

lot of inefficiency is probably the annoying thing, electronic notes is slowly coming into place, maybe 20% of hospitals have it now. most nurses cant take bloods or IVs is also another annoying thing
a lot of understaffing if you work more north, but probably still easier than sg workload
lot of moving around the country unless your cv is good to keep staying in same region
winter is dam sian, but spring and summer is really shiok

I guess nice thing is you can prescribe/order tests, dont need to worry about patient's ability to pay, most patients are grateful

lot of pros and cons, new law in 2019 means IMG can try any specialty, last time only got chance in IM, psych, GP. loads of brits still run away to aus/NZ.

try to match in US maybe if not aiming something too competitive
maybe try australia for even better work life balance - 38h/week
give UK a shot if want specialise something competitive. post consultant CCT can work a lot of places too, know some msians just sticking out till post-CCT then move out of UK

Originally Posted by Unregistered

a loads of brits still run away to aus/NZ.

Aus/NZ still got internship places for IMG?

According to the latest news, international students studying in Aus medical schools have to fight for internship places in Australia.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

yup. never say die.
we live a life of service.
believe in yourself you can achieve.

rmb to study hard. sleep 8 hours a day.
study 8 hours a day.
do 100 push up, 100 sit up and run 10km.

you will be a great doc in no time.

Agree with this, most doctors I know live by this ethos.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Aus/NZ still got internship places for IMG?

According to the latest news, international students studying in Aus medical schools have to fight for internship places in Australia.

Not sure about NZ, but Aus is merit-based for IMGs due to the internship shortage, which some say is intentional so they only get the best of the best. Or if you don't mind working in rural areas like Alice Springs or Pilbara. You can fight for a position in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane if your grades and CV are good enough or the dept head really likes you.

Having worked in both countries, I would say Aus is not much different from Singapore except Aus workload is better (possibly the best in the world that's why UK grads going to Aus in droves)/training time longer.

I am a UK-trained radiologist, interviewing (presumably for assoc consultant job) with one of the public hospitals in singapore next week/month.

I wonder if anyone been through the same process? I will be most grateful if any of you could shed some lights.

Many thanks!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I would say Aus is not much different from Singapore except Aus workload is better (possibly the best in the world that's why UK grads going to Aus in droves)/training time longer.

Thanks. I believe you meant specialist training was shorter in Aus compared to the UK ?

Specialist training is of course shorter in the US. But most of us here won't get used to violence/ shooting cases over there.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

are you a local grad?

yup. maybe just dreaming to move only

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Aus/NZ still got internship places for IMG?

According to the latest news, international students studying in Aus medical schools have to fight for internship places in Australia.

Yeah internship is hard, I know some monash Singaporeans had to come home cause no job. Have to find those commonwealth internship programme thing to get internship normally in more rural areas. Think I got a friend in alice springs or somewhere near there.
Brits go there to do SHO/MO level jobs which are more available than internship

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yeah internship is hard, I know some monash Singaporeans had to come home cause no job. Have to find those commonwealth internship programme thing to get internship normally in more rural areas. Think I got a friend in alice springs or somewhere near there.
Brits go there to do SHO/MO level jobs which are more available than internship

Monash Singaporeans come home? Singapore got internship positions for all of them ?

Singaporeans should think why list of recognised medical schools shortened again and again.

Singaporeans should(or must) apply for Australia PR while studying medicine in Australia.