How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

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.

unfortunately admins deciding policy have no experience on ground
kpi driven, everything to stretch their dollar
but quality of care and wellbeing of drs not quantifiable

fortunately got bond and nus degree not recognised in most first world nations united kingdom, aus, united states
solves brain drain problem

Originally Posted by Unregistered

unfortunately admins deciding policy have no experience on ground
kpi driven, everything to stretch their dollar
but quality of care and wellbeing of drs not quantifiable

fortunately got bond and nus degree not recognised in most first world nations united kingdom, aus, united states
solves brain drain problem

Got bond can break. For usa you can join as fmg after taking usmle. For uk, if you have an mrcp, they do recognise your mrcp. australia you can go for rural postings. sma magazine advertises locum positions for nz.

If you want a good life balance then need to work hard for it. Cannot expect to be handed a silver platter.

On the other hand, I see CECA Drs working their ass off. They graduated from a non-recognised college. started as temp reg > conditional reg > full reg. Fought for Singapore residency, finally exiting.

i also see many CECA Drs going to UK.

Hi all,
I am a UK graduate(Singaporean), currently doing fy1. Just wondering what is the future for doctors in Singapore? (In terms of a getting into residency and job opportunities post residency) - doesn't sound promising based on what I read on this forum .

I actually don't really know what I want to do, maybe gp, maybe IM, less likely surgery.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi all,
I am a UK graduate(Singaporean), currently doing fy1. Just wondering what is the future for doctors in Singapore? (In terms of a getting into residency and job opportunities post residency) - doesn't sound promising based on what I read on this forum .

I actually don't really know what I want to do, maybe gp, maybe IM, less likely surgery.

I would say stay in the UK first. At the minimum, try to complete your training there. When you finally feel homesick (miss your family during CNY/Deepavali/Hari Raya) or feels disappointed with NHS, then consider relocating back in a few years time.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I would say stay in the UK first. At the minimum, try to complete your training there. When you finally feel homesick (miss your family during CNY/Deepavali/Hari Raya) or feels disappointed with NHS, then consider relocating back in a few years time.

Not likely you will get to relocate to Singapore without giving up all your years of training though. Singapore is way too saturated even at the top. Consultants from UK are being rejected from applying to Singapore. Better think wisely. But that being said you might not even end up as a consultant working in singapore given how overly saturated the training slots have been. Probably stuck as a MO for many many years working low hours and grossly underpaid. Time for us to face the reality

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Not likely you will get to relocate to Singapore without giving up all your years of training though. Singapore is way too saturated even at the top. Consultants from UK are being rejected from applying to Singapore. Better think wisely. But that being said you might not even end up as a consultant working in singapore given how overly saturated the training slots have been. Probably stuck as a MO for many many years working low hours and grossly underpaid. Time for us to face the reality

hospital mo life actually ok if pay per hour
like australia got over time pay and whatnot, so can earn a decent wage still
But singapore is per month

read about the "terrible" working conditions of sydney here:
s://mindbodymiko.com/the-ugly-side-of-becoming-a-surgeon/

60-70 hours a week being a surgical reg cannot take it already
some more she gets paid per hour
Not to ignore the workplace harassment, sexists can be found everywhere

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?

How easy/difficult is it to get a gp job in Singapore? (Any postgraduate qualifications needed?)
And I guess working private is better than polyclinic?

How many hours do MOs in Singapore work on average in a week ? I heard 70 hours a week but that seems a little excessive?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi all,
I am a UK graduate(Singaporean), currently doing fy1. Just wondering what is the future for doctors in Singapore? (In terms of a getting into residency and job opportunities post residency) - doesn't sound promising based on what I read on this forum .

I actually don't really know what I want to do, maybe gp, maybe IM, less likely surgery.

Seriously, you shouldn't base decisions about your future on the opinions of strangers in this open forum. There is a lot of crap written here which distorts the true situation. Better to speak directly to someone in the know

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Got bond can break. For usa you can join as fmg after taking usmle. For uk, if you have an mrcp, they do recognise your mrcp. australia you can go for rural postings. sma magazine advertises locum positions for nz.

If you want a good life balance then need to work hard for it. Cannot expect to be handed a silver platter.

On the other hand, I see CECA Drs working their ass off. They graduated from a non-recognised college. started as temp reg > conditional reg > full reg. Fought for Singapore residency, finally exiting.

i also see many CECA Drs going to UK.

Spoken like a true CECA Dr.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Seriously, you shouldn't base decisions about your future on the opinions of strangers in this open forum. There is a lot of crap written here which distorts the true situation. Better to speak directly to someone in the know

Listen to this poster.