How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Because you are rather junior (have not accumulated 5 years experience of attending physician), will still require supervision.

Realistically speaking you have to join a govt hospital and work for about 5 years before getting full registration. Then u can leave for private practice.

U will join as an AC (associate consultant) first on your 1st year before being promoted to consultant.

Thanks again for your help.

Would you mind clarifying why it would take around 5 years to obtain full registration?

SMC states that that the minimum supervised practice is 2 years.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Ac supervision just means another con to speak to you occasionally.
Like meet him once per 3 months for chitchat.
Elsewise daily work you are on your own.
You are supposed to function as an independent consultant

And lord over the residents

Honestly that doesn't sound too bad. As residents we have to meet with our program director formally once every few months to check in anyway. I am sure that I can relate to residents a bit more given that I had just finished my training, and happy to teach / share my training.

I only take issue with the fact that I would have to practice under supervision for ??5 years before obtaining full registration. Not saying that I will leave for private practice immediately after obtaining full registration, but I would much prefer the freedom of choice to stay or leave depending on my work environment, rather than lose that choice and be shackled.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Times are hard in these covid era

Pre covid is you work 48hours per week (not including breaks), about 16-18k.

16-18k a month, that is quite a lot

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks again for your help.

Would you mind clarifying why it would take around 5 years to obtain full registration?

SMC states that that the minimum supervised practice is 2 years.

2 years is Theoretical minimum. Usually will take 5. Sometimes 10. Sometimes never

The whole point of getting foreign trained doctors Is to boost the local public sector.
It was never the intention to let them go to lucrative (pre-covid) private sector.

Furthermore, the point is always to capture quality foreign docs, appoint them as professors and pay them competitively and let them stay in the public system to educate the young docs and share their expertise.

But it doesnt really matter. Coz pay is the same in the public sector.
However now with covid, pte sector is doing very badly , so staying with public is the best option

Originally Posted by Unregistered

2 years is Theoretical minimum. Usually will take 5. Sometimes 10. Sometimes never

The whole point of getting foreign trained doctors Is to boost the local public sector.
It was never the intention to let them go to lucrative (pre-covid) private sector.

Furthermore, the point is always to capture quality foreign docs, appoint them as professors and pay them competitively and let them stay in the public system to educate the young docs and share their expertise.

But it doesnt really matter. Coz pay is the same in the public sector.
However now with covid, pte sector is doing very badly , so staying with public is the best option

Do gps get paid the same in public/private sector? (Looking at the earlier post, I don't think gps at ops get paid 16-18k?)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Do gps get paid the same in public/private sector? (Looking at the earlier post, I don't think gps at ops get paid 16-18k?)

Pte GP get more.

OPS get around 15k to 20k.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Pte GP get more.

OPS get around 15k to 20k.

15 to 20k? U mean inclusive of bonus ah?
And u must be fcfp and head of ops?

So far the mmed(fm) graduates definitely do not get 15-20
And gp under a chain definitely do not get much more than 16-18.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

15 to 20k? U mean inclusive of bonus ah?
And u must be fcfp and head of ops?

So far the mmed(fm) graduates definitely do not get 15-20
And gp under a chain definitely do not get much more than 16-18.

How much do the mmed fm grads earn at ops?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

15 to 20k? U mean inclusive of bonus ah?
And u must be fcfp and head of ops?

So far the mmed(fm) graduates definitely do not get 15-20
And gp under a chain definitely do not get much more than 16-18.

MRCGP, MMED(FM),FRACGP. 25k at OPS.

GP under chain 17k

Originally Posted by Unregistered

2 years is Theoretical minimum. Usually will take 5. Sometimes 10. Sometimes never

The whole point of getting foreign trained doctors Is to boost the local public sector.
It was never the intention to let them go to lucrative (pre-covid) private sector.

Furthermore, the point is always to capture quality foreign docs, appoint them as professors and pay them competitively and let them stay in the public system to educate the young docs and share their expertise.

But it doesnt really matter. Coz pay is the same in the public sector.
However now with covid, pte sector is doing very badly , so staying with public is the best option

Foreign trained physicians can do more than just boost the public sector. With their diverse training background, they provide a fresh perspective to the system as a whole and can do good work regardless of private or public.

I doubt any self-respecting physician who is fully licensed in developed countries would allow the system to take advantage of them for longer than the "minimum" period.

So long as the public sector's pay is somewhat comparable to private sector, there would be minimal incentive for physicians to leave the public sector. Fear is never a sustainable motivator in the long term.