How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

One of my friend asking me if he should go UQ and take a MD
His first degree was in NUS lifescience.
He is 30 years old this year.

Doctor of medicine Tuition fees is about 90k AUD per year so 360 AUD
Plus accom & living expense i think total 4 years will spend 500k SGD.

I did a quick calculation.
Say at steady state, life sci pay 120k per year. GP pay is 240k per year.
So 120k premium per year.

Capital investment
He will lose 4 years of earning so 120k*4=480k (income loss while studying)
Plus another 500k for tuition fees and living in Aussie
So during schooling years will lose 980k

Starting pay for HO in Singapore is 70k (yes it is 70k, coz now HO base is higher, my time was 3.6k, but now i think is 4K and call allowance much better)

When compared to 120k if he were to stayed in current job:
Deficit for HO year = 120k - 70k = 50k
MO pay about 100k each year:
Deficit for MO year = 120k - 100k = 20k
Income loss before full reg:
is 20k (MO year) + 20k (MO year) + 50k (HO year) = 90k

Total cost = 980k (during schooling years) + full reg investment (90k) = 1.05mil

Then full reg go GP with 240k pay package
Age 30 (now) +4years (MD) + 3 years (full reg)
At age of 37.

Since his GP pay will be 240k vs 120k , ie premium of 120k

His breakeven will be 1.05mil/120k = 9 years
So will breakeven at age 37+9=46.

I told him based on my calculation it’s worthwhile.

by the time graduate already mid 30s... still got energy do HOMO calls??

Originally Posted by Unregistered

by the time graduate already mid 30s... still got energy do HOMO calls??

No energy
My path like the example.
But I do so many years ago when med school cheaper
But then condo 500k got 1300 sq feet. So maybe same same

Every call my lifespan shorten by 1 week I think.
A bit older so dun take noseness
Call reg for blue letter , reg was nasty and ask this sort of thing why need to call for review
I told him, senior I understand you are tired but Im not the one requesting this review, my consultant call for it. You were a junior before , I'm sure you had done what I'm doing before, why are you being difficult on me?
It's fine if u don't want to review. I will just let my consultant know.
Thanks. Put down the phone.
Tell u, I never see a reg come by for a review so quickly.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I think you are a stingy owner leh. All of the gp groups I spoke to offer 15-16k if you willing to work 2 nights. Most have bonus ranging from 1-3 months (some bigger chains guarantee aws, others smaller chains don't) So realistically it's a 13-14 month package. And all have annual increments based on performance. Ironically profit sharing is never mentioned or offered in the discussion.

But of course need to hit kpi la. Most annual packages higher than what ops offer me now, but of course I understand there is no career progression la

Ditto, depends how you negotiate.

I tell everyone do not accept below 250k/year package.

Those who know, know.

Those who just look for recruiter offers, sure get lowballed.

Know your worth.

Can I ask if senior faculty or ops head get annoyed when residents leave for private practice post completion of mmed? I know my faculty gets annoyed when some of my peers quit residency to go gp land/aesthetics, not sure if it's different if one leaves after exiting residency and completion of exams...

Maybe I am thinking too much, and maybe they don't care at all. But just curious as I am probably going tell my boss I am tendering next week.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Ditto, depends how you negotiate.

I tell everyone do not accept below 250k/year package.

Those who know, know.

Those who just look for recruiter offers, sure get lowballed.

Know your worth.

251k/yr ok?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

One of my friend asking me if he should go UQ and take a MD
His first degree was in NUS lifescience.
He is 30 years old this year.

Doctor of medicine Tuition fees is about 90k AUD per year so 360 AUD
Plus accom & living expense i think total 4 years will spend 500k SGD.

I did a quick calculation.
Say at steady state, life sci pay 120k per year. GP pay is 240k per year.
So 120k premium per year.

Capital investment
He will lose 4 years of earning so 120k*4=480k (income loss while studying)
Plus another 500k for tuition fees and living in Aussie
So during schooling years will lose 980k

Starting pay for HO in Singapore is 70k (yes it is 70k, coz now HO base is higher, my time was 3.6k, but now i think is 4K and call allowance much better)

When compared to 120k if he were to stayed in current job:
Deficit for HO year = 120k - 70k = 50k
MO pay about 100k each year:
Deficit for MO year = 120k - 100k = 20k
Income loss before full reg:
is 20k (MO year) + 20k (MO year) + 50k (HO year) = 90k

Total cost = 980k (during schooling years) + full reg investment (90k) = 1.05mil

Then full reg go GP with 240k pay package
Age 30 (now) +4years (MD) + 3 years (full reg)
At age of 37.

Since his GP pay will be 240k vs 120k , ie premium of 120k

His breakeven will be 1.05mil/120k = 9 years
So will breakeven at age 37+9=46.

I told him based on my calculation it’s worthwhile.

Life sci 120k per year? LOL.. I got friends from life sci who are garb drivers, the very best of them (A*star scholar) is only making around 70k an annum…

Originally Posted by Unregistered

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

Why will you even want to do the twinning programme and then hope to return to SG if it’s not recognised?

You should have transferred to the full Irish programme.

Your only option is to get a postgraduate degree and return back.

Working in Malaysia is impossible for a foreigner(even their local grads have to wait many years to secure an intern post).

I think you are most likely trolling because no singaporean will study something that’s not recognised and pay the high fees

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Can I ask if senior faculty or ops head get annoyed when residents leave for private practice post completion of mmed? I know my faculty gets annoyed when some of my peers quit residency to go gp land/aesthetics, not sure if it's different if one leaves after exiting residency and completion of exams...

Maybe I am thinking too much, and maybe they don't care at all. But just curious as I am probably going tell my boss I am tendering next week.

They don't really care.
If too many quit , DIO might wonder if the program is malignant or not
But usually we explain it away by saying bond finish liao or no bond
So break to go GP land lo.
Everyone accepts that.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Can I ask if senior faculty or ops head get annoyed when residents leave for private practice post completion of mmed? I know my faculty gets annoyed when some of my peers quit residency to go gp land/aesthetics, not sure if it's different if one leaves after exiting residency and completion of exams...

Maybe I am thinking too much, and maybe they don't care at all. But just curious as I am probably going tell my boss I am tendering next week.

I dont mind resident leave

I get a bit pissed when ppl tender just after maternity or prolonged HL

Like u milk the org. Once get benefits bye bye