How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What cynicism? It is reality.

Medicine is not made out to be what it is.

And I cannot understand why anyone would really want to go back to SG if they have the chance to migrate to Oz?

Many reasons what.
Family, the food, the simple fact that you can walk to your kopitiam and have a kopi breakfast set.
Australia is not this magical lala land. It has it's nice bits and parts , but there's some things I cannot accept, eg u need to maintain your lawn or else u get fined!
There's some invisible racism as well. Most people will talk about insults hurling bogans, but corporate wise there's a ceiling to your progression, some older auzzies will view your competency with suspicion etc.
I reckon it will get better in 1 or 2 generations.
Plus, tax kills. Haha. 350k annual salary become 190k nia.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

is paeds the hardest specialty to enter?

It's a protected speciality. Number of newborn decreasing and there's only 2 paeds hospital, plus once they turn 18, become adult, so really no business.
Compared to adult and geri which is an expanding pool as pple longevity increase and migrants come in.
About 7 to 9 years ago when residency first came on, they took large numbers like 15 to 20 a year for nuh and kk Vs the 4 to 5 per year annually, so this few years they cut down on intake
Also, increasing number family physicians are m.med nowadays where the paeds exposure is good Vs last time just MBBS or dip fan med where they don't have much kids experience, so parents gradually find it ok to go to family med doctor Vs 250 per visit to a paediatrician.

Last few years got graduating paediatricians cannot find associate consultant position in hospital fyi.
Sibei sian one , either stay as service registrar ( doing calls , much lower salary) or going private ( where business not v good also, plus, although u are a specialist liao, u still a blur sotong )
Think twice la. Kids are cute, but their parents are not anyways

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What cynicism? It is reality.

Medicine is not made out to be what it is.

And I cannot understand why anyone would really want to go back to SG if they have the chance to migrate to Oz?

Having lived abroad for almost 15 years now, I can assure you that the grass is not always greener on the other side. The tax really kills. An annual income of $400k becomes $220k after tax. Furthermore, there is capital gains tax on investments.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Having lived abroad for almost 15 years now, I can assure you that the grass is not always greener on the other side. The tax really kills. An annual income of $400k becomes $220k after tax. Furthermore, there is capital gains tax on investments.

Yes tax is higher. However the cost of living is lower. Your purchasing power per dollar earned is higher.

Cars.

Houses.

It is not a bed of roses for sure overseas but SG has its problems. Space is a premium and very expensive. Plus much indirect taxation. COE is one. ERP. CPF.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yes tax is higher. However the cost of living is lower. Your purchasing power per dollar earned is higher.

Cars.

Houses.

It is not a bed of roses for sure overseas but SG has its problems. Space is a premium and very expensive. Plus much indirect taxation. COE is one. ERP. CPF.

I think it really depends on where you are comparing it to.

COL in SG is very similar to Sydney, Melbourne, Toronto and Vancouver.
COL in SG is cheaper than Manhattan or San Francisco.

But tax rates in SG is significantly lower, especially for the higher income earners making >300k per annum.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I think it really depends on where you are comparing it to.

COL in SG is very similar to Sydney, Melbourne, Toronto and Vancouver.
COL in SG is cheaper than Manhattan or San Francisco.

But tax rates in SG is significantly lower, especially for the higher income earners making >300k per annum.

As physicians, we are fairly mobile as far as moving to different cities to work.

You're telling me the only cities in Oz are Sydney and Melbourne? Go look at other cities. Even the locations around Melbourne eg Geelong, Mornington, Frankston. They are not too bad places to live.

And for Canada there are other places like Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina etc.

It is all relative of course. It is all in the heart really.

But remember Singapore is Singapore city and country. That's it. Cost of cars and houses one of the highest IN THE WORLD. No other options within the country. It is it.

But it is majority asian. Supposedly non racist (depends what race you are). And safe.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I think it really depends on where you are comparing it to.

COL in SG is very similar to Sydney, Melbourne, Toronto and Vancouver.
COL in SG is cheaper than Manhattan or San Francisco.

But tax rates in SG is significantly lower, especially for the higher income earners making >300k per annum.

As physicians, we are fairly mobile as far as moving to different cities to work.

You're telling me the only cities in Oz are Sydney and Melbourne? Go look at other cities. Even Perth, Brisbane. Even the locations around Melbourne eg Geelong, Mornington, Frankston. They are not too bad places to live. Oz is big,

And for Canada there are other places like Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina etc.

It is all relative of course. It is all in the heart really.

But remember Singapore is Singapore city and country. That's it. Cost of cars and houses one of the highest IN THE WORLD. No other options within the country. It is it.

But it is majority asian. Supposedly non racist (depends what race you are). And safe.

Good luck!

Is o&g a difficult specialty to get into?
How is life as a o&g specialist? Given that they serve all women of different ages and all the problems related to women health, I assume that there will always be jobs/demand.
And is it true that obstetrics are paid very well? (Given that most couples would always opt for private when it comes to pregnancy)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Is o&g a difficult specialty to get into?
How is life as a o&g specialist? Given that they serve all women of different ages and all the problems related to women health, I assume that there will always be jobs/demand.
And is it true that obstetrics are paid very well? (Given that most couples would always opt for private when it comes to pregnancy)

didnt they teach you in med sch?
the rules of "o" and "p"

"o" for owning!!!
obstetrics
ophthalmology
orthopedics
otolaryngology

any specs that start with o, are very competitive.
everybody wants. so harder to get in

"p" for pwned

psychiatry
public health
pathology
pediatrics

nobody wants so conversely lousier grades are needed to get in.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

As physicians, we are fairly mobile as far as moving to different cities to work.

You're telling me the only cities in Oz are Sydney and Melbourne? Go look at other cities. Even the locations around Melbourne eg Geelong, Mornington, Frankston. They are not too bad places to live.

And for Canada there are other places like Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina etc.

It is all relative of course. It is all in the heart really.

But remember Singapore is Singapore city and country. That's it. Cost of cars and houses one of the highest IN THE WORLD. No other options within the country. It is it.

But it is majority asian. Supposedly non racist (depends what race you are). And safe.

Good luck!

Those cities you mentioned are significantly smaller than Singapore, and lack many of the attractions of a bigger city (restaurants, nightlife, entertainment and arts). I suspect that you may not have lived in any of those cities for longer than 2 weeks.

Sure you are living in a "first world" country (Australia/Canada), and real estate is more affordable than Singapore, but at what expense?

If you enjoy spending time alone, then those places would be suitable for you. However, I doubt that most Singaporeans will agree to immigrate to those cities, even if they could qualify for it.