How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Any GPs here?
Will like to ask in Singapore, does everyone who are not specialists eventually become gp? Do you actually have to go through fm residency to become a recognised gp? (Like the UK where you can only become a qualified gp if you go through the training programme)

Not a GP but my senior wanting to be one told me no need to do FM but it might change soon. probably have to choose the relevant postings as a MO if you dont get into FM. Seeing the need for more GPs might not make sense to mandate a training programme?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I am thinking about returning to singapore from sydney to become a house man after i complete my degree here

I understand no job is perfect and I consider it a victory if 3 out of 5 of my wants are met.
1. Life work balance
2. Income
3. Location
4. Coworkers/my fulfillment
5. Future opportunities

Does anyone have suggestions?

1. Not in singapore
2. You get higher pay in Australia USA New Zealand and even UK working far less hours
3. Singapore is a pretty good location if you consider availability of food and entertainment
4. Hierarchical working culture, might get bullied as a HO. Fulfilment as a doctor much the same as other places, and patients are more demanding and rude compared to other first world nations
5. Not great

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Not a GP but my senior wanting to be one told me no need to do FM but it might change soon. probably have to choose the relevant postings as a MO if you dont get into FM. Seeing the need for more GPs might not make sense to mandate a training programme?

But I guess those in the training programme (aka residency) progress faster in their careers and have more job opportunities?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

hi how difficult is it to get into residency thesse days? what was the transition like from UK to sg?

Transition difficult as one might expect
Guilty until proven innocent is the general sentiment for IMGs
I struggled mightily the first couple of months
IM still ok I got in first yr MO but increasingly difficult

Originally Posted by Unregistered

1. Not in singapore
2. You get higher pay in Australia USA New Zealand and even UK working far less hours
3. Singapore is a pretty good location if you consider availability of food and entertainment
4. Hierarchical working culture, might get bullied as a HO. Fulfilment as a doctor much the same as other places, and patients are more demanding and rude compared to other first world nations
5. Not great

Think UK is less pay after tax but probably more per hour. Seems like australian grads have little choice unless wanting to do the 48 mth rural internship contract, not sure if NZ or UK will accept them if they are not citizens?

Singapore is probably 2/5, decent pay, good location (everything is accessible). Poor opportunities except if you aim to be GP which the govt is pushing hard.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Transition difficult as one might expect
Guilty until proven innocent is the general sentiment for IMGs
I struggled mightily the first couple of months
IM still ok I got in first yr MO but increasingly difficult

what do you mean by guilty until proven otherwise?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

what do you mean by guilty until proven otherwise?

Incompetent until proven otherwise

Originally Posted by Unregistered

1. Not in singapore
2. You get higher pay in Australia USA New Zealand and even UK working far less hours
3. Singapore is a pretty good location if you consider availability of food and entertainment
4. Hierarchical working culture, might get bullied as a HO. Fulfilment as a doctor much the same as other places, and patients are more demanding and rude compared to other first world nations
5. Not great

Thank you for the advice, I'll heed it.

From the comments on this website, the work conditions for young doctors in sg dont sound the best.

Any reason why it is like that?
Can't be safe right, has anything bad happened before?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

what do you mean by guilty until proven otherwise?

Senior doctors and your local grad counterparts tend to view IMGs in a dimmer light until proven otherwise

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thank you for the advice, I'll heed it.

From the comments on this website, the work conditions for young doctors in sg dont sound the best.

Any reason why it is like that?
Can't be safe right, has anything bad happened before?

To be fair UK used to be like this in the 80s and 90s before they implement working rights, European working hours, new deal etc. This was from a consultant based in UK who worked in SGH previously. It is not safe for patients if doctors are overworked and TATT. Singapore just stretch their manpower rather than allocating the right amount of doctors to patients. Hence you still get 36 hours shift and ridiculous working hours. Maybe the government is trying to cut cost. Pay hasn't increase much at all in recent times when adjusted for inflation. In UK, working that kinda hours is deemed not safe for both doctors and patients and the health board gets punished badly if they fail to abide by the working guidelines. In singapore they blame it on culture. It is rather the backwards mentality and fear of speaking up that makes the working culture what it is today.