How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

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

U senior faculty meh
After hl body not fit quit u pissed for what

Originally Posted by Unregistered

hi! i passed yesterday too. im from programme b
i have a senior who did fellowship as a GP. he quit halfway coz he felt it was not helpful for him. but he did get to start.
i think there are a few GPs who are program b tutors..maybe can ask program b director if u want to help. i think they are always looking for help.
i got another friend who starting facilitiating ethics classes for medical students also.

Can I ask, is the fellowship program designed purely for FPs in the public sector wishing to take on leadership roles? Meaning it has very limited educational value that make one a better clinician/fp. (I see gps doing mmed via program b, even though it has limited value for progression in private, as they find that they do learn things by studying for it.) Wondering if the same applies for fellowship or is it really designed for people wanting to take on administrative roles?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Can I ask, is the fellowship program designed purely for FPs in the public sector wishing to take on leadership roles? Meaning it has very limited educational value that make one a better clinician/fp. (I see gps doing mmed via program b, even though it has limited value for progression in private, as they find that they do learn things by studying for it.) Wondering if the same applies for fellowship or is it really designed for people wanting to take on administrative roles?

1. not true.

2. the gist of this is , you don't know what you don't know. I remember not so long ago, one GDFM FP in my ops told me ( after just passing GDFM) that M.med , aiyah, easy la. GDFM cover a lot liao, i don't see how you ( me) guys know more than me. This is the guy who start nitrofuratonin for suspected pyelonephritis in a male with CKD. Wrong on so many levels. He think he knows a lot, but actually, he knows sheet.

3. I say the bare minimum to be a competent FP is actually a m.med , which is the par for course for gp from many countries ( MRCG is 3 years, fracgp is 3 years and so is ABFM). Its a travesty to allow these bond breakers with limited experience to see patient independently in Singapore tbh.

4. the origin of the fellowship was that they want to make Fam med become a specialty since > 20 years ago, so someone envision that you need to lengthen the training to match that of specialist with a intermediate and then an exit exam aka the fellowship so that SAB will be more accepting and then list Fam med as a specialty.
22 years down the road that hasn't happen lor.
I think there is a economics/ policy/ fearful reason not for that to happen and will not happen. If fam med become a speciality, then the FCFP will become specialist. Then people are gonna question GPs ( healthier SG ya) then your GDFM FPs are what? huh? you are letting sub-par, not fully trained doctor treat us all the time without oversight?!!!! Big can of worms no one want to open.
Any health minster worth this political salt will see the landmine and kick the can down the road....forever.
The fam med elders make a serious blunder 20 years ago when they decide on this route.

the idea is that you become an expert family physician with a fellowship ( m.med is at the proficient level while GDFM is competent).
you do become a bit better la TBH. Its tough lei. You have to do research ( must have results ) , know how to appraise the various kinds of studies , handle complex cases, pass a really difficult clinical exam in addition to having enough thoughts and insights into current medical development to answer the leadership and ehtics components

Just whether need such a pro family physician to see your run of the mill polyclinic case or not is another question. Overkill la. I think if u do community hospital medicine, you need it. if u can meet all the milestones, stand firm when grilled during exit exam and pass it , you are essentially an established clinician. Then when u talk , can be louder a bit la.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

U senior faculty meh
After hl body not fit quit u pissed for what

Yeah it’s kind of toxic to be in such an environment when you’re judged for taking care of yourself

Originally Posted by Unregistered

1. not true.

2. the gist of this is , you don't know what you don't know. I remember not so long ago, one GDFM FP in my ops told me ( after just passing GDFM) that M.med , aiyah, easy la. GDFM cover a lot liao, i don't see how you ( me) guys know more than me. This is the guy who start nitrofuratonin for suspected pyelonephritis in a male with CKD. Wrong on so many levels. He think he knows a lot, but actually, he knows sheet.

3. I say the bare minimum to be a competent FP is actually a m.med , which is the par for course for gp from many countries ( MRCG is 3 years, fracgp is 3 years and so is ABFM). Its a travesty to allow these bond breakers with limited experience to see patient independently in Singapore tbh.

4. the origin of the fellowship was that they want to make Fam med become a specialty since > 20 years ago, so someone envision that you need to lengthen the training to match that of specialist with a intermediate and then an exit exam aka the fellowship so that SAB will be more accepting and then list Fam med as a specialty.
22 years down the road that hasn't happen lor.
I think there is a economics/ policy/ fearful reason not for that to happen and will not happen. If fam med become a speciality, then the FCFP will become specialist. Then people are gonna question GPs ( healthier SG ya) then your GDFM FPs are what? huh? you are letting sub-par, not fully trained doctor treat us all the time without oversight?!!!! Big can of worms no one want to open.
Any health minster worth this political salt will see the landmine and kick the can down the road....forever.
The fam med elders make a serious blunder 20 years ago when they decide on this route.

the idea is that you become an expert family physician with a fellowship ( m.med is at the proficient level while GDFM is competent).
you do become a bit better la TBH. Its tough lei. You have to do research ( must have results ) , know how to appraise the various kinds of studies , handle complex cases, pass a really difficult clinical exam in addition to having enough thoughts and insights into current medical development to answer the leadership and ehtics components

Just whether need such a pro family physician to see your run of the mill polyclinic case or not is another question. Overkill la. I think if u do community hospital medicine, you need it. if u can meet all the milestones, stand firm when grilled during exit exam and pass it , you are essentially an established clinician. Then when u talk , can be louder a bit la.

Do people do fellowship immediately after mmed usually? Or do they do it after a few years as a mmeder? Talking about ops setting (not CH)

I just completed and passed the recent mmed exam (just like many others posting on this forum this week). Part of me wants to take a break and evaluate career options, part of me just want to go all the way and complete all exams asap before deciding on my long term career path.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Do people do fellowship immediately after mmed usually? Or do they do it after a few years as a mmeder? Talking about ops setting (not CH)

I just completed and passed the recent mmed exam (just like many others posting on this forum this week). Part of me wants to take a break and evaluate career options, part of me just want to go all the way and complete all exams asap before deciding on my long term career path.

MMED from batch of 2018. Don’t do it. Career progression is rigid even after you do the FCFP. Top earners from my batch are the ones who are partners in multi clinics or those who took the leap to aesthetics.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

MMED from batch of 2018. Don’t do it. Career progression is rigid even after you do the FCFP. Top earners from my batch are the ones who are partners in multi clinics or those who took the leap to aesthetics.

Yea but the work-life balance different also.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yea but the work-life balance different also.

Ops not easy lei
40 to 50 patients a day at least
Patient complex and you burn your soul if u want to manage them well
Even simple hypertension now got to do ptech, healthier sg
Then confirm will have itchy skin or knee pain
Then tell u going Taiwan want standby meds

Complex one needless to say
Do 1 already sian
Sometimes I gung-ho in fcfp mood go dig and dig
Zzz. Dig a hole jump in and die there.

Hours on paper is 8 to 5
But that 8 to 5 u working and working
Go home is brain fried liao

My wife say u dun need call , regular hours , 6pm u watching Netflix liao
Why u so lazy!
Why cannot help me.
Little does she know.

Saturday worse
Collect lots of question come and ask u
Buay paiseh one.
I hate Saturdays. Work morning but Sian till evening. Like a fully day work
Clinic then somehow always go hire those lazy locums maybe becuSe who want to work on Saturdays right?
Got 1 in my clinic one sat morning see 10 patient.
Piang ey. Other pple tank her load. Sibei jialat


Sometimes I want to act like a lousy doctor but feel damn guilty
But explain everything swee sweet end up I burnout


Gp life easier la. Urti, msk, skin, simple chronic.
If 250k annual package is true.
Take it man
4 years is 1 million liao.
Say u are 30 years old
Dun go wack 2 million condo
Stay 500k hdb
By 50 u can FIRE liao
Invest properly u likely have 5 million in stocks by 50
Even 4 percent yield gives 200k dividend
Every week chin chye locum 2 days 8k a month
Can go for long holidays
Rest of week can do what u want
Can have a fulfilling 30 years before u die.

Ops?
Burnout is real no matter what.
Full time clinican? Die as above
Leadership? Manage pple u die also. Clinic load dying u also need to help
Research? Lagi worse. Publish or perish
Education? 轮不到你。

Can I ask from senior gps/fps who have left the system, is it generally better to be an anchor or floater/locum?

I enquired with a chain group (quite a large gp group) and was offered a floater role. Floater means you cover any clinic (throughout Singapore) that needs man power for the day (e.g if the anchor takes mc). Essentially it sounds like a full time employed locum. Pay is similar to an anchor (not too bad la 200-220k/year depending on bonus). I am not sure if I should take it (I presume floater comes with less responsibility and kpi compared to anchor?)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Ops not easy lei
40 to 50 patients a day at least
Patient complex and you burn your soul if u want to manage them well
Even simple hypertension now got to do ptech, healthier sg
Then confirm will have itchy skin or knee pain
Then tell u going Taiwan want standby meds

Complex one needless to say
Do 1 already sian
Sometimes I gung-ho in fcfp mood go dig and dig
Zzz. Dig a hole jump in and die there.

Hours on paper is 8 to 5
But that 8 to 5 u working and working
Go home is brain fried liao

My wife say u dun need call , regular hours , 6pm u watching Netflix liao
Why u so lazy!
Why cannot help me.
Little does she know.

Saturday worse
Collect lots of question come and ask u
Buay paiseh one.
I hate Saturdays. Work morning but Sian till evening. Like a fully day work
Clinic then somehow always go hire those lazy locums maybe becuSe who want to work on Saturdays right?
Got 1 in my clinic one sat morning see 10 patient.
Piang ey. Other pple tank her load. Sibei jialat


Sometimes I want to act like a lousy doctor but feel damn guilty
But explain everything swee sweet end up I burnout


Gp life easier la. Urti, msk, skin, simple chronic.
If 250k annual package is true.
Take it man
4 years is 1 million liao.
Say u are 30 years old
Dun go wack 2 million condo
Stay 500k hdb
By 50 u can FIRE liao
Invest properly u likely have 5 million in stocks by 50
Even 4 percent yield gives 200k dividend
Every week chin chye locum 2 days 8k a month
Can go for long holidays
Rest of week can do what u want
Can have a fulfilling 30 years before u die.

Ops?
Burnout is real no matter what.
Full time clinican? Die as above
Leadership? Manage pple u die also. Clinic load dying u also need to help
Research? Lagi worse. Publish or perish
Education? 轮不到你。

Empathize with you. Drs are paid per encounter. Not on how well you do. The lousy dr keep quiet say very little is paid the same as the one who explain until no more saliva fry her own brain.