How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Originally Posted by Simon

kk hospital doctors and nurses were just missing the mark for me. absolute disaster. and you chaps are here talking about salaries and promotions and what not. Crap!

Thats the problem when we have too many docs who are poor communicators.
In general our docs are medically sound but i find current medical sch does not teach sufficient about communications and conflict resolution.

with an increasingly sophisticated patient base, this should be core curriculum.

Originally Posted by Simon

kk hospital doctors and nurses were just missing the mark for me. absolute disaster. and you chaps are here talking about salaries and promotions and what not. Crap!

Bet you're one of those losers who will queue hours and hours for haidilao or shake shack but hey moan away when you have to wait 4hrs in ED.
Piss off, we are paid peanuts to serve entitled idiots like you

Guys is PSY a good career path? What do you think?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Not so drastic but more of drop in income. It is a function of demand and supply.

Demand wise, Population is aging. So per head, there is higher healthcare consumption because people are living longer. But a lot of money goes to drug companies and insurance companies, not just to the doctors.

The drastic increase in supply shifts the supply curve to the rightwards, so the price will drop.
Reasons for increase in supply:

1) a lot more doctors nowadays
2) nurses and pharmacist can actually do some or most of doctor job
3) increasing use of technology.


So price will drop and doctor income will fall. Already we are seeing it.
The reduction in income will spur less students to study mbbs or md.

I personally dont think it is an economical decision to spend $400k to study medicine.
Since income likely to stagnate.

This is not necessarily a bad thing for society as a whole due to cheaper doctor labour with the slight excess manpower capacity. But there is one caveat. With the reduction in income, some doctors may overtreat and monetise the smaller pool of patients.

With large population of foreign residents it make sense to accept foreign practitioners from India and China to lower cost of healthcare...more deregulation needed

Hi, would like to ask if programme directors generally prefer to take younger doctors for residency?
I am currently pgy4, just went for a residency interview and was asked if I will complete the programme given that my bond finishing in 1.5 years and if I will be tempted by the outside world? (I.e gp land)

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi, would like to ask if programme directors generally prefer to take younger doctors for residency?
I am currently pgy4, just went for a residency interview and was asked if I will complete the programme given that my bond finishing in 1.5 years and if I will be tempted by the outside world? (I.e gp land)

The model answer to this qn is:

Prof (as long as they are adjunct asst prof and above, just call them prof) then you continue saying. I believe age is not a factor. There are many young doctors who are pgy 2, fresh from completing their hoship, just got their full registration and they break bond. There are also many more experienced doctors that are still in their public service even though their bond has ended long ago. In fact you look at the mopex list you can find some mcr that starts with 08XXX. So seniority is not a factor


I do not have the intention of breaking bond and quitting this program. If i did I would have done it long ago, and i would not bother with applying for residency.

Furthermore, im truly interested in this program.
I came from a poor family, was funded partially by bursaries. I feel that it is my duty to continue in public service.

So they will be okies.

======
Other than trying to test your thinking, they are also Really concerned about residency attrition. Must make them feel at ease
The rates are higher for older docs like you.

When are the bonuses paid? Any in November?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

When are the bonuses paid? Any in November?

Dec - 13th month bonus 1mth aka AWS
Jan - Year End bonus 1 mth
Mar - performance bonus
July - mid year bonus

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Dec - 13th month bonus 1mth aka AWS
Jan - Year End bonus 1 mth
Mar - performance bonus
July - mid year bonus

4 months bonus in total?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

4 months bonus in total?

Not four mths.

Dec is usually 1 mth, 13th mrh aws
Jan is usually 1 mth, year end but depends on economy
Mar is variable coz it is individual performance. Can range from 0.5 to 3.
- more if u go work before 7am for gm, or before 6am for gs
- more if u stay back after 5pm, volunteer for calls, sat and sun rounds, presentations, grandrounds
- much less u late for work. Do sloppy work. Complain abt work life balance
July is usually 0.5mth

So min 2.5mth if you arent suspended or placed on work improvement plan, average 3mth to 4. Better ones at 5. Good ones max 6mth.