How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

I also passed the recently concluded mmed exam. Was offered a fp role by ops, pay is ard 180k/year if you include the junior fp award.
I personally think it's not a bad deal, (pretty similar to many gp group outside, or maybe only slightly lower), although I am a little apprehensive about the high attrition rate of mmeders in my cluster (most leave after 1-3 years).
I am not sure if I should take the deal. To be honest, I don't like or hate ops life. I feel that I am just doing a job I am trained to do, and I don't specifically have any long term aspirations to take up any leadership roles.
Not sure if I should take a leap of faith to go out and try locuming a bit, or stick to my comfort zone of 8-530 in ops

Originally Posted by Unregistered

1. Can. Not only gdfm, u want teach m.med also can
U can also email ntu and ask to be a clinical tutor
Pays 150 am hour

2. Can. Not a lot though.
Last time research not so stringent but now a lot harder
U will die at the research portion,Becuase no institutional support
Can do a systematic review however
U might also have difficulty finding complex cases

3. Ask Ur clinic for a 6 months no pay. Then go locum on the sly.
Hahaha

Is the complex case logbook like the mmed 20 case viva all over? (But a more difficult version of it)
I understand if you sign up for fellowship, you will be assigned a tutor, usually from public. Was wondering if your tutor can help to facilitate your research project in his host institution?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I also passed the recently concluded mmed exam. Was offered a fp role by ops, pay is ard 180k/year if you include the junior fp award.
I personally think it's not a bad deal, (pretty similar to many gp group outside, or maybe only slightly lower), although I am a little apprehensive about the high attrition rate of mmeders in my cluster (most leave after 1-3 years).
I am not sure if I should take the deal. To be honest, I don't like or hate ops life. I feel that I am just doing a job I am trained to do, and I don't specifically have any long term aspirations to take up any leadership roles.
Not sure if I should take a leap of faith to go out and try locuming a bit, or stick to my comfort zone of 8-530 in ops

Well,
Don't get pressurised to sign up by anyone or HR
They always need manpower and u can sign on anytime
Dun get sold into the beauty of insitution work.
There isn't any unless u want do research, loved education or wants to do admin
If u just want to be a FP, see patient, Ur options is unlimited outside

If u do the maths , when u sign on per hour u get about 110 -115
( including cpf). This is after taking off annual leave of 24 to 26 days.

They cover Ur insurance 1.2k, practice cert 400 per year
And a miserable medical insurance co payment scheme ( yes , miserable even until cannot see private specialist)

Nothing else.
Zilch.

Realistic increament 3 percent a year if u meet requirement( most of the time)
4 percent if u exceed requirement ( some years)
5 percent if you are exceptional ( very hard to get)

Eg if u v good for a few years eg most exceed and exceptional, u might become deputy or director
Then u will be benchmark at that level in which case since everyone is good, u regress to meet requirement again.
Realistically if u are good Ur life time average is 4 lower end percent
Normal folks is 3 lower end percent annual increment.

My juniors now all v smart
No one sign on
Locum outside if they want a slack day, aim the 90 per hour type.
Want money go 150/ hour
Some dabble in 1 or 2 day of a&e work
One guy go ntu be clinical demonstrator sometimes, 150 an hour
Come back to ops to locum on the day we have cme , so maintain some currency and settle cme requirement.
Good locums are also desirable because a lot are lousy.
A few made regular locum arrangement that pays way above market rate.
Becuase what is 20 to 30 dollars an hour extra to the clinic owners?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Is the complex case logbook like the mmed 20 case viva all over? (But a more difficult version of it)
I understand if you sign up for fellowship, you will be assigned a tutor, usually from public. Was wondering if your tutor can help to facilitate your research project in his host institution?

Lol
R u the one who was so moody about not able to pass?
And then now want do fellowship?

They usually give u a sup from same cluster
If u private , usually the apd or one of the senior faculty that do a lot of research will be assign Ur sup to help you.
Your supervisor usually some senior guy.
He also busy as f. Cannot hand hold you.
Who u gonna get to recommend u ?
U need a few guys with fellowship to recommend u.
Think it's 3 now

Give it a few year before u think about it la

Ya. Way more difficult version of it but also depend on your luck.
U write dementia case u meet an examiner who has special interest in it you gg liao
Heng Heng meet those knowledge level same as u, then then pass
1000 words for 1 complex case.

Defend your research. Usually an external examiner from HK, Malaysia will lead it

Leadership or ethics vivia.
Anything under the sun lo
What's your opinion on value driven care ?
Your suborndiante posted a disparing comment on his patient on social media
You approach him, he says no patient identifier. What are you gonna do?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Lol
R u the one who was so moody about not able to pass?
And then now want do fellowship?

They usually give u a sup from same cluster
If u private , usually the apd or one of the senior faculty that do a lot of research will be assign Ur sup to help you.
Your supervisor usually some senior guy.
He also busy as f. Cannot hand hold you.
Who u gonna get to recommend u ?
U need a few guys with fellowship to recommend u.
Think it's 3 now

Give it a few year before u think about it la

Ya. Way more difficult version of it but also depend on your luck.
U write dementia case u meet an examiner who has special interest in it you gg liao
Heng Heng meet those knowledge level same as u, then then pass
1000 words for 1 complex case.

Defend your research. Usually an external examiner from HK, Malaysia will lead it

Leadership or ethics vivia.
Anything under the sun lo
What's your opinion on value driven care ?
Your suborndiante posted a disparing comment on his patient on social media
You approach him, he says no patient identifier. What are you gonna do?

Thanks for sharing. Not sure if I am the "moody person" that you are referring to as there seems to be many moody people in this thread in general.

But ya, I was worried I couldn't pass mmed, but now I passed, trying to think of a long term future plan that is sustainable. So contemplating all options lo.

- I enquired about fellowship as I do think that if you stay in public, eventually need to do (or at least I will do). This is an important consideration as I have been asked by my HR to give an answer within the week (to sign with ops or not) (It's like how nowadays you need mmed to have any career progression in public. I suspect the bar will eventually be raised to fcfp in the future, and one day mmed in public will just be like gdfm now)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks for sharing. Not sure if I am the "moody person" that you are referring to as there seems to be many moody people in this thread in general.

But ya, I was worried I couldn't pass mmed, but now I passed, trying to think of a long term future plan that is sustainable. So contemplating all options lo.

- I enquired about fellowship as I do think that if you stay in public, eventually need to do (or at least I will do). This is an important consideration as I have been asked by my HR to give an answer within the week (to sign with ops or not) (It's like how nowadays you need mmed to have any career progression in public. I suspect the bar will eventually be raised to fcfp in the future, and one day mmed in public will just be like gdfm now)

Can share u east/weat/ central?
My HR didnt quote so high for pay….
calculated ask seniors around 150 only?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks for sharing. Not sure if I am the "moody person" that you are referring to as there seems to be many moody people in this thread in general.

But ya, I was worried I couldn't pass mmed, but now I passed, trying to think of a long term future plan that is sustainable. So contemplating all options lo.

- I enquired about fellowship as I do think that if you stay in public, eventually need to do (or at least I will do). This is an important consideration as I have been asked by my HR to give an answer within the week (to sign with ops or not) (It's like how nowadays you need mmed to have any career progression in public. I suspect the bar will eventually be raised to fcfp in the future, and one day mmed in public will just be like gdfm now)

again
as i say, no need be pressured by HR. If you undecided, maintain your employment with MOHH first or quit and then locum at the same OPs.
Many moon ago, HR also pull the same stun with me, say got what backend constraint blar blar. Aiyah, bruff one. You got m.med now, u are in demand by all polyclinics which is facing a REAL shortage of doctors.
The shortage is real.
Very real.

FCFP wise
generally, in OPS, u dun need do FCFP until u are able to be promoted to consultant.
so 3 to 3.5 years to get AC
Then another 3-4 years to get C ( notice i use the word ABLE , having FCFP doesn't guarantee promotion)
Realistically start thinking about FCFP after you get your AC


On the other hand if u interested in community hospital career, then u need to get ur FCFP asap. West side need that for AC rank, singhealth side AC rank u need do the internal 3 year program but to get C u need FCFP.

Anyway m.med doesnt mean u really a master tbh. Knowledge decay is very fast after exams. 3 months later, u will be like ey, i suddenly cannot remember ROME IV criteria for IBS liao. The many types of rash suddenly just become eczema, nah, here some steriod cream. try, not better come back.
you prolly need work another 2-3 years in ops to gain maturity with CDM and see all the conditions to consolidate the knowledge. IMHO u really come into shape as a master of family medicine if u work in OPS for 2-3 years post m.med esp so if u do resident preceptorship where if u are actively learning u will also learn a lot too.

If I'm in your shoes?
i would quit and locum with OPS and GP land to have a feel of which one i like most, then make a choice within 6 months. If not married, i would probably backpack europe for 1 or 2 months before that. Ahaha

if u are a local meddie, means u had probably been chioning ur entire life from secondary to JC to med school, then residency. time to take a break.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

again
as i say, no need be pressured by HR. If you undecided, maintain your employment with MOHH first or quit and then locum at the same OPs.
Many moon ago, HR also pull the same stun with me, say got what backend constraint blar blar. Aiyah, bruff one. You got m.med now, u are in demand by all polyclinics which is facing a REAL shortage of doctors.
The shortage is real.
Very real.

FCFP wise
generally, in OPS, u dun need do FCFP until u are able to be promoted to consultant.
so 3 to 3.5 years to get AC
Then another 3-4 years to get C ( notice i use the word ABLE , having FCFP doesn't guarantee promotion)
Realistically start thinking about FCFP after you get your AC


On the other hand if u interested in community hospital career, then u need to get ur FCFP asap. West side need that for AC rank, singhealth side AC rank u need do the internal 3 year program but to get C u need FCFP.

Anyway m.med doesnt mean u really a master tbh. Knowledge decay is very fast after exams. 3 months later, u will be like ey, i suddenly cannot remember ROME IV criteria for IBS liao. The many types of rash suddenly just become eczema, nah, here some steriod cream. try, not better come back.
you prolly need work another 2-3 years in ops to gain maturity with CDM and see all the conditions to consolidate the knowledge. IMHO u really come into shape as a master of family medicine if u work in OPS for 2-3 years post m.med esp so if u do resident preceptorship where if u are actively learning u will also learn a lot too.

If I'm in your shoes?
i would quit and locum with OPS and GP land to have a feel of which one i like most, then make a choice within 6 months. If not married, i would probably backpack europe for 1 or 2 months before that. Ahaha

if u are a local meddie, means u had probably been chioning ur entire life from secondary to JC to med school, then residency. time to take a break.

Thanks for your advice boss (One of the most practical writings I seen in this forum). Think I will heed your advice to go locum for a while in ops and gp land. (Will also see if I can join as college tutor to keep up my currency)

Can I also ask, I noted there is something called mcfps that is between mmed and fellowship. I note that mcfps is a requirement for one to graduate from fellowship. I was just wondering if one chooses not to do fellowship, are we still able to get (or any value) in getting this mcfps? (I.e collegiate member)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks for your advice boss (One of the most practical writings I seen in this forum). Think I will heed your advice to go locum for a while in ops and gp land. (Will also see if I can join as college tutor to keep up my currency)

Can I also ask, I noted there is something called mcfps that is between mmed and fellowship. I note that mcfps is a requirement for one to graduate from fellowship. I was just wondering if one chooses not to do fellowship, are we still able to get (or any value) in getting this mcfps? (I.e collegiate member)

No value unless u go all the way for fcfp
U need 40 teaching hours
Then interview with college censor
After that pay 4k for a very expensive convocation dinner

I did my first 2.5 preclinical years in dublin and my balance 2.5 years of clinical years in malaysia. now i would like to return to singapore to do my housemanship as a singaporean or willing to do extra years of housemanship. how is this possible? I graduated with MB Bch CAO (honours)from national university of Ireland . how is this possible