How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Hi All,
Thanks for the input! Yup I'm fully aware of the Australia internship crisis, so most probably coming back to Sg, which is what I want.

I went to look up the MOHH residency postings and there are about 22 being posted to General Surgery residency for 2018. I can see that that's a very competitive group, not to say the least of even smaller intake groups like for Ophth/ENT (~3-5 each?) Sigh

Nonetheless you only lose if you don't try, and I'm prepared to slog it out in Sg for my HO/MO years. Can or cannot get residency, that's in the future. However I still have some questions which I hope somebody in the know may shed some light on:

1) Generally in which PGY year would it be recommended to apply for residency?
---I understand it takes time to have sufficient MOPEX rotations and to build up some portfolio for research, but I was wondering how long is the norm before you gain sufficient experience to compete?

2) If I can't get into residency, could I follow the MO route to become a RP? What's the pay like and how long would it take to get there? I guess as long as I can engage in interesting casework in hospitals, this may still be an attractive option.

3) With all the push for generalists, will there even be enough slots for the public system to absorb and promote doctors? If private GP is already saturated, worst case is may end up as MO for a decade.

You will probably try every opportunity I guess after you have done a mopex in that specialty. Yeah I think that's the worry once there are too many gps in the private sector. Should be lots of jobs for RPs once Singaporeans replace those 3rd world temp reg doctors, just that you will probably work registrar hours with no career progression. But good to keep an open mind, can't be too fixated on surgery unfortunately. Maybe try to score a rural internship in Australia, still good work life balance and pay if you can stay on

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You will probably try every opportunity I guess after you have done a mopex in that specialty. Yeah I think that's the worry once there are too many gps in the private sector. Should be lots of jobs for RPs once Singaporeans replace those 3rd world temp reg doctors, just that you will probably work registrar hours with no career progression. But good to keep an open mind, can't be too fixated on surgery unfortunately. Maybe try to score a rural internship in Australia, still good work life balance and pay if you can stay on

rural isnt that bad i think. so keep your options open. do rural before coming back.

Isn't the whole point of the RP track to funnel the excess glut of MOs into a generalist path?

Hi guys,
Which hospital is better for a RP in radiology (Ng Teng Fong or Changi guys), info on the pro and cons of each would be of immense help.... I am particlulary interested in work culture and general workload in each...

thank you

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Isn't the whole point of the RP track to funnel the excess glut of MOs into a generalist path?

Kind of but RPs normally just work in 1 dept. That will be the case for an IM RP.

Hi, I am currently a HO, UK grad (returned sep last year). Just curious, are we allowed to apply for 2 different residency programmes in 1 cycle (eg IM + FM/ IM and paeds)?

Will the programme directors know that we have applied to other residency programmes as well and will that jeopardize our chances?

[Skinternist]

Originally Posted by Skinternist

Hi everyone,

I'm a current Dermatology resident in US and my MD is from a university listed in the SMC's Second Schedule.

I'm considering the move to Singapore upon completion of residency and attainment of board certification (FAAD). I have a few questions that I hope you can help me out with:

1. Dermatology does not seem to be one of the specialties on the list of Registrable Postgraduate Medical Qualification. Does SMC consider Dermatology to be under the branch of Internal Medicine for licensing purposes?
2. Would I be able to practice independently from the get-go, or do I have to be under supervision for a certain duration? If the latter, would this have to be in an academic settings like the NSC?
3. Any additional qualifying examinations that I will have to complete, assuming that I am already fully licensed to practice independently in North America?
4. What are the typical work hours in Singapore?
5. What is the typical income range for someone who practices a mixture of medical, surgical (non-Mohs) cosmetic dermatology?

Thanks in advance.

Any responses to the above? Feel free to PM me too if you prefer.

Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by Skinternist

Any responses to the above? Feel free to PM me too if you prefer.

Thanks in advance.

In the old days, as long as you have a diplomate of from American board of dermatology, and a letter of good standing, hosps will welcome you with open arms.

But since 2015, there are excess of residents, and local Hosp has difficulty finding jobs for their own residents. As such , it is much harder to get a job. No that foreign grads are discriminated, just that local residents get priorities.

As you come from a foreign nation, you will be conditionally registered, meaning you will need some form of supervision for the first 3years.

But frankly the pay in Singapore isn't that high. Looking at 150-200k sgd as an associate consultant. Heard in the USA can easily get 400-500k usd.

Originally Posted by Skinternist

Any responses to the above? Feel free to PM me too if you prefer.

Thanks in advance.

Hey mate! My skin is dry. Especially the face area. But I have an oily nose. What would you recommend?