How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

--Don't know why my post keep getting modded--
I got my PR there coz my parents worked there when I was young.

But then even without PR, the path should be similar if you are CCTed. They allow PR to return right after graduation by bonded for 12 years (internship 1 specialist training 6 + 5 years of service provision post-specialist). If you are non-PR, you must be registered abroad (so finished PGY1 in Aus or F1 in UK).

I plan to train in UK first to skip their resident years (heard from friends it was 60-70 hours a week with high volume and brutal shift schedule).

UK/Aus/SG specialists can come in directly as AC there (C equivalent and start at SGD25k + another 6-7k gratuity and allowance) with less brutal rota so I think that is manageable.

Biggest issue is 5-year bond if you don't pass their conversion exam and go with the service provision route. So I plan to try their licensing exams as well, can practice in HK directly after 1-year of internship (sucks for specialist to go back to 4 rotations in 1 year though) or 3-year of specialist in public hospitals there.

Things may change though so I guess I also need to be prepared coming back to SG if things fail there.

your heart is set on medicine. welcome on board soon!

Originally Posted by Unregistered

That’s the main problem with SG. The residency selection process is not fully transparent. There’s no public data available on number of applicants/number of trainees selected for every speciality.

Everything is transparent In UK and USA. In UK, you can see the competition ratios and some specialities like FM/Psych are solely based on the results of 1 exam (MSRA). So you don’t even need anything else like portfolio.

The same goes for USA. Each speciality has a breakdown step 2 ck score and the average number of applicants.

So it’s easy to game the system when you already know the parameters clearly. But not the case for SG.

transparency leads to accountability and jusitifcation. Removes the possibility of nepotism and makes the system more meritocractic but this is obviously not in the favour of those who already have power and connections so it wont be chamging anytime soon

Originally Posted by Unregistered

transparency leads to accountability and jusitifcation. Removes the possibility of nepotism and makes the system more meritocractic but this is obviously not in the favour of those who already have power and connections so it wont be chamging anytime soon

Lack of transparency also helps bros here though.. For some of you guys who stayed in GRH or become some big guys in polyclinics and gov or having a bro doing gs residency, etc., you make a phone call can nepo your kids to these specialties in the future la

Worst is our gen nepo and we suck, then next gen they scrapped the system suddenly become meritocracy

Nah Id say it should be fully meritocratic. No nepo should be involved

Originally Posted by Unregistered

--Don't know why my post keep getting modded--
I got my PR there coz my parents worked there when I was young.

But then even without PR, the path should be similar if you are CCTed. They allow PR to return right after graduation by bonded for 12 years (internship 1 specialist training 6 + 5 years of service provision post-specialist). If you are non-PR, you must be registered abroad (so finished PGY1 in Aus or F1 in UK).

I plan to train in UK first to skip their resident years (heard from friends it was 60-70 hours a week with high volume and brutal shift schedule).

UK/Aus/SG specialists can come in directly as AC there (C equivalent and start at SGD25k + another 6-7k gratuity and allowance) with less brutal rota so I think that is manageable.

Biggest issue is 5-year bond if you don't pass their conversion exam and go with the service provision route. So I plan to try their licensing exams as well, can practice in HK directly after 1-year of internship (sucks for specialist to go back to 4 rotations in 1 year though) or 3-year of specialist in public hospitals there.

Things may change though so I guess I also need to be prepared coming back to SG if things fail there.

Uk is the best if you are aiming for aesthetics. You can get your aesthetic certs done up in 2 years compared to most MOs who won’t have the time in SG.

Aim to get into an aesthetic fellowship programme in the USA and get training experience with top cosmetic surgeons there.. as far as I know only 2 doctors in Singapore have done that and they are doing very very well.

Aesthetics is competitive but the pool of top tier talent is very low. So you can make the big bucks if you are truly good and differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Doctors are not in oversupply. It’s just that in singapore to make more than 300k a year as a doctor u either have to specialise, do aesthetics or be very good at business as a GP. Still even an average GP earns a good amount of money but still less than HK

Top aesthetic doctors make the most amount of money in SG, even higher than real specialist surgeons.

The keyword is top. Not your average run of the mill aesthetic doctor who do COCs and join aesthetics right after full reg/MOPEX.

Do your research and you will find that the very top doctors have international training experience and credentials.

One of them did his med school in Australia, and got postgrad derm degree from KCL. Went on to work in London as a locum medical officer/aesthetic doc. Even completed multiple traineeships under top cosmetic surgeons in Los Angeles USA.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Top aesthetic doctors make the most amount of money in SG, even higher than real specialist surgeons.

The keyword is top. Not your average run of the mill aesthetic doctor who do COCs and join aesthetics right after full reg/MOPEX.

Do your research and you will find that the very top doctors have international training experience and credentials.

One of them did his med school in Australia, and got postgrad derm degree from KCL. Went on to work in London as a locum medical officer/aesthetic doc. Even completed multiple traineeships under top cosmetic surgeons in Los Angeles USA.

Very hard to be top. I am happy being a humble GP making 500-600k a year. Easy work. 2-3 days a week.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Top aesthetic doctors make the most amount of money in SG, even higher than real specialist surgeons.

The keyword is top. Not your average run of the mill aesthetic doctor who do COCs and join aesthetics right after full reg/MOPEX.

Do your research and you will find that the very top doctors have international training experience and credentials.

One of them did his med school in Australia, and got postgrad derm degree from KCL. Went on to work in London as a locum medical officer/aesthetic doc. Even completed multiple traineeships under top cosmetic surgeons in Los Angeles USA.

that guy did PLAB and USMLE? or just observership with no hands on?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

transparency leads to accountability and jusitifcation. Removes the possibility of nepotism and makes the system more meritocractic but this is obviously not in the favour of those who already have power and connections so it wont be chamging anytime soon

hmm... i do not know how true nepotism ... but i do know a guy who went back home from UK and then got into plastic surgery residency within few years. dad is also a plastic surgeon...

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Very hard to be top. I am happy being a humble GP making 500-600k a year. Easy work. 2-3 days a week.

How u plan to be a normal GP, 2 -3 days a week and yet earn 500-600k. The numbers dun tie.