How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Currently deciding between going to med sch or going for a top business program. How many of you, with your current knowledge and experience of being a doctor, would not mind doing it again? Or would you rather pursue something else other than medicine?

eh you got to like the job and know what is it you want out of your life and career. for example, if what you want is to treat patients, then i'd imagine do medicine.

but in terms of financial reward:

medicine rewards you for your medical know-how - can be fairly narrow and ultimately down to you servicing a patient, one at a time. if you have a wide and varied life experience, the business world will reward you far more handsomely. it's the same deal with any professional v non-professional.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

eh you got to like the job and know what is it you want out of your life and career. for example, if what you want is to treat patients, then i'd imagine do medicine.

but in terms of financial reward:

medicine rewards you for your medical know-how - can be fairly narrow and ultimately down to you servicing a patient, one at a time. if you have a wide and varied life experience, the business world will reward you far more handsomely. it's the same deal with any professional v non-professional.

Correct. These days even prostitutes know can have IG account, Onlyfans. Reach more people at the same time. medicine is still one at a time. And after that still need to document (ie write essay on what happened during the consultation what was said, what was done. If never write means not said not done. very troublesome and tedious)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

eh you got to like the job and know what is it you want out of your life and career. for example, if what you want is to treat patients, then i'd imagine do medicine.

but in terms of financial reward:

medicine rewards you for your medical know-how - can be fairly narrow and ultimately down to you servicing a patient, one at a time. if you have a wide and varied life experience, the business world will reward you far more handsomely. it's the same deal with any professional v non-professional.

These days with the amount of information and videos you find on internet, there is much less demand for getting professional advice. Sure you might need a professional to sign off on a prescription or a legal letter, accounting statement etc. But it's quick usually. hence the demand for such professionals has come down a lot. And they find it harder to charge for their work.
Meanwhile being a professional means you are subject to your regulatory body's rules. Many things you cannot do. Or you lose your licence. But non professionals can do stuff to masquerade as professional online eg giving "professional" advice without much consequence. Professional Regulatory bodies have no jurisdiction over non members. So you can say that being a non professional without those rules and regulations is actually better overall of business and sales. Go to fields with less rules and regulations.
In the past these professions were protected and had high income. These days that high income has stagnated since the 2000s. So it is getting less attractive. If you are an enterprising doctor and wants to setup a website or medical advice service online you get clamped down. Whereas if you are not you can write all kinds of articles true and untrue or half true get ad traffic, say some controversial stuff to drive traffic to site, have other side line businesses and not worry about losing the licence you had to spend so long trying to get.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

These days with the amount of information and videos you find on internet, there is much less demand for getting professional advice. Sure you might need a professional to sign off on a prescription or a legal letter, accounting statement etc. But it's quick usually. hence the demand for such professionals has come down a lot. And they find it harder to charge for their work.
Meanwhile being a professional means you are subject to your regulatory body's rules. Many things you cannot do. Or you lose your licence. But non professionals can do stuff to masquerade as professional online eg giving "professional" advice without much consequence. Professional Regulatory bodies have no jurisdiction over non members. So you can say that being a non professional without those rules and regulations is actually better overall of business and sales. Go to fields with less rules and regulations.
In the past these professions were protected and had high income. These days that high income has stagnated since the 2000s. So it is getting less attractive. If you are an enterprising doctor and wants to setup a website or medical advice service online you get clamped down. Whereas if you are not you can write all kinds of articles true and untrue or half true get ad traffic, say some controversial stuff to drive traffic to site, have other side line businesses and not worry about losing the licence you had to spend so long trying to get.

"Go to fields with less rules and regulations." Well said!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

In that case the dukies likely end up more in NUH. Also likely to occupy leadership positions given the publishing rate. Stay in public sector more too?

It is difficult paint everyone with the same brush.
It's true that Dukies take a bit more time to adjust to the daily grind of clinical work. But beyond the initial years, there are a fair number who are just as competent as clinicians.
Furthermore, being a good House Officer / Medical Officer is but the first step into the medical career. Dukies have their own background (e.g. engineering degree, business experience) and interests which carry them further as well into different realms of clinical administration / leadership / research / business.
Of course, some would have a change in priorities as they are older and doing the same work as someone who is 10 years younger, being on call 2-3 days per week at 30+ years old is certainly no mean feat. This group may choose to be GPs as a lifestyle choice.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

It is difficult paint everyone with the same brush.
It's true that Dukies take a bit more time to adjust to the daily grind of clinical work. But beyond the initial years, there are a fair number who are just as competent as clinicians.
Furthermore, being a good House Officer / Medical Officer is but the first step into the medical career. Dukies have their own background (e.g. engineering degree, business experience) and interests which carry them further as well into different realms of clinical administration / leadership / research / business.
Of course, some would have a change in priorities as they are older and doing the same work as someone who is 10 years younger, being on call 2-3 days per week at 30+ years old is certainly no mean feat. This group may choose to be GPs as a lifestyle choice.

Is GP a lifestyle specialty? Is that why it is so popular nowadays?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Is GP a lifestyle specialty? Is that why it is so popular nowadays?

Medicine is a long slog. Long course. Then long hours housemanship. MO. Calls. People who don't do medicine themselves wont truly understand how tedious and long it is. Everyone at some stage will ask themselves why are they doing this? If you are young, still single, no kids, first job is doctor, lots of life in the future you can tell yourself hey maybe the pay off later will be fantastic (in most cases it is not unfortunately), basically bluff yourself to keep at it.
If you are mature, married. Kids. Done other jobs before. You will know it is crazy. Especially when it is a long marathon which you probably have to do till you retire around age 65-70. It is NOT like some field where you work really really hard no sleep for 10-15 years and then cash out and retire at age 40-50 (think bankers and finance, traders).
So GP is one option. It pays enough. You will never be rich. You can still have a pretty comfortable life. Provide for the family. Might never retire. But if you enjoy the work it's good.

I am still a student.

But just wondering if anyone you guys know who make an exit to Consulting firms (MBB, Oliver Wyman, IVQIA etc)

I spoke to the consultants (chit chat during clinic) and learned from them that some of their classmates have left for Pharm & Insurance companies as medical consultants. But haven't heard of those that left to the big consulting firms, any of the seniors here have any friends who left clinical practice for big consulting firms?

If so, any specialty is more desirable than the others? On the back of my head, Prev Med because of MPH requirement might seem abit more relevant for consultancy work.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I am still a student.

But just wondering if anyone you guys know who make an exit to Consulting firms (MBB, Oliver Wyman, IVQIA etc)

I spoke to the consultants (chit chat during clinic) and learned from them that some of their classmates have left for Pharm & Insurance companies as medical consultants. But haven't heard of those that left to the big consulting firms, any of the seniors here have any friends who left clinical practice for big consulting firms?

If so, any specialty is more desirable than the others? On the back of my head, Prev Med because of MPH requirement might seem abit more relevant for consultancy work.

The income for those who left for the Pharma and Insurance companies is less than what they would earn as clinicians. Which is why very few will make the switch. Admin route eg become CEO of hospitals is not too bad.
Why do medicine if you want to work in big consulting firms?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I am still a student.

But just wondering if anyone you guys know who make an exit to Consulting firms (MBB, Oliver Wyman, IVQIA etc)

I spoke to the consultants (chit chat during clinic) and learned from them that some of their classmates have left for Pharm & Insurance companies as medical consultants. But haven't heard of those that left to the big consulting firms, any of the seniors here have any friends who left clinical practice for big consulting firms?

If so, any specialty is more desirable than the others? On the back of my head, Prev Med because of MPH requirement might seem abit more relevant for consultancy work.

Mostly oncology, cardiology, infectious diseases for pharma. Basically areas where there are a lot of drug development. Google medical science liaison. Preferably with clinical trial experience.