How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

You mentioned that you got into a 2 year programme with U of Calgary? Is it a residency? I heard getting into a Residency is very difficult as an IMG. Like at least 10 applicants per slot internationally. Were you initially already a Internal Medicine specialist in Singapore and just did a 2 year course with U of Calgary? How hard is it to get into such courses if so? Thanks.

Yes I did the 2 year Family Residency program at the U of Calgary.

They had 10 spots for IMGs. And yes the success rate for landing a residency spot in family medicine is about 10% and is the best. Other specialties are lower.

I was a "nothing" in sinkieland. I was doing Surgical BST. I passed MRCS part I and never took part II.

While I was in OPS as a Family Doctor (not MOPEX) I did get funding and signed up for GDFM but was only about 6 months into the program before I left for Canada.

I was lucky? It was my first try at CaRMS and only applied to ONE residency program.

think CaRMS is almost impossible to get in now without PR/citizen.

there's a way to being a canadian GP without going through CaRMS

1 way to get into canada is go to UK -> finish f1, f2 (HO, MO) -> GP 3 years training (underfilled anywhere out of london) -> GP training is fully recognised in canada and australia (only GP, nothing else afaik)

not sure if YLLSoM doctors need to do PLAB(qualifying exam) to come to UK

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Currently an Singaporean going to study medicine in Australia, I’ve been hearing rumours that Singaporeans abroad are being denied a PGY1 spot in Singapore. Is this true? Even though there are 100+ schools that are cut from the second schedule? I will be finishing Med school in 6 years, will the problem improve as years pass if true? My school is still on the second schedule. Thanks

as a current UK med student about to graduate, I would advise you to try sg med schools or go to a UK med school, or do another degree.

I have a few friends who know people who did not get a PGY1 spot in australia or SG, they are kinda screwed. i know quite a few uk grads who got a PGY1/2 job this year, so not sure what the hiring situation is like now. the pre-employment grant is definitely decreasing

i think it will be a gamble to go to australia. the plight is a bit similar to those americans who go to caribbean med schools and fail to match back into the US and end up in tons of debt.

The australian situation is getting worse, and doubt singapore will get better if they ramp up the local med schools' intake. hard to predict what will happen in 6 years. PEG is likely to be gone by then

UK med school is a good idea if you still want to do medicine, it is cheaper, lots of jobs, chance to specialise in anything you want. only caveat is they are creating lots of med schools and increasing students currently, but that is due to a massive shortage that has been ongoing for decades. think the fees have gone up a lot as well but brexit has made that cheaper

if you want to carry on with your degree, plan and think of other routes to work elsewhere, dont expect to be back in sg. this could be UK (might not even need to take qualifying exams), US (take STEP exams) etc.

if you really want to be back in sg, i would study something else. ive spoken to prospective sg students who have to come to visit my med school and also discouraged them from coming if they die die want to return to sg after graduation

lot to take in but consider it carefully, if you do this degree, lower your expectations of getting a job back in sg. and even if you come back, will likely be more competitive to get postgraduate training if they are going to take in more students in this small island. upside is worklife balance might be better with more doctors?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

think CaRMS is almost impossible to get in now without PR/citizen.

there's a way to being a canadian GP without going through CaRMS

1 way to get into canada is go to UK -> finish f1, f2 (HO, MO) -> GP 3 years training (underfilled anywhere out of london) -> GP training is fully recognised in canada and australia (only GP, nothing else afaik)

not sure if YLLSoM doctors need to do PLAB(qualifying exam) to come to UK

Thanks heaps dear senior for your advice. Seems like jobs and residency prospects within Singapore becoming worse with mohh being almost anti-Singaporean in their hiring process nowadays.

Overseas countries like australia and canada gets discussed a fair bit here. How does it compare between the two countries for a Singapore-born grad to work in in terms of barriers to entry, cultural differences, pay and lifestyle?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks heaps dear senior for your advice. Seems like jobs and residency prospects within Singapore becoming worse with mohh being almost anti-Singaporean in their hiring process nowadays.

Overseas countries like australia and canada gets discussed a fair bit here. How does it compare between the two countries for a Singapore-born grad to work in in terms of barriers to entry, cultural differences, pay and lifestyle?

I did try Australia. But Oz will not give you PR first. You go over as a temporary foreign worker. Take the AMC exams then challenge the FRACGP. So what may happen is you go to Oz and end up never getting FRACGP and go back to sinkieland with nothig.

With Canada you can get your PR first then go over and try for CaRMS. At least you got your PR already and you can find other work.

Canada doesnt have a 2 tier billing system. I prefer that.

Canadians are also less racist.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

as a current UK med student about to graduate, I would advise you to try sg med schools or go to a UK med school, or do another degree.

I have a few friends who know people who did not get a PGY1 spot in australia or SG, they are kinda screwed. i know quite a few uk grads who got a PGY1/2 job this year, so not sure what the hiring situation is like now. the pre-employment grant is definitely decreasing

i think it will be a gamble to go to australia. the plight is a bit similar to those americans who go to caribbean med schools and fail to match back into the US and end up in tons of debt.

The australian situation is getting worse, and doubt singapore will get better if they ramp up the local med schools' intake. hard to predict what will happen in 6 years. PEG is likely to be gone by then

UK med school is a good idea if you still want to do medicine, it is cheaper, lots of jobs, chance to specialise in anything you want. only caveat is they are creating lots of med schools and increasing students currently, but that is due to a massive shortage that has been ongoing for decades. think the fees have gone up a lot as well but brexit has made that cheaper

if you want to carry on with your degree, plan and think of other routes to work elsewhere, dont expect to be back in sg. this could be UK (might not even need to take qualifying exams), US (take STEP exams) etc.

if you really want to be back in sg, i would study something else. ive spoken to prospective sg students who have to come to visit my med school and also discouraged them from coming if they die die want to return to sg after graduation

lot to take in but consider it carefully, if you do this degree, lower your expectations of getting a job back in sg. and even if you come back, will likely be more competitive to get postgraduate training if they are going to take in more students in this small island. upside is worklife balance might be better with more doctors?

Not the same person, but aren’t Doctors in the UK suffering under the NHS scheme? I heard they’re worked extraordinarily much and get paid very poorly. Sure you get to specialise, but that’s after at least going through F1 and F2. Besides that, there’s already reports of Doctors in UK flooding to places like Australia, where they can work less and get paid the same. I know Doctors shouldn’t complain about the hours they work, but Doctors are human too at some point we need to balance things that are also important to us like providing for our family and being there for our children. I think what he needs to understand is that it isn’t sunshine and rainbows anywhere he goes, even including Singapore, we have our fair share of problems here(being a local grad). We can’t tell what’s going to happen 6 years from now, sad to say, IMGs are in a precarious position currently. But I don’t think he will be out of a job with 500k down the drain, as long as he’s willing to take licensing exams for places like UK, sure it may waste some time, but a job is better than no job. If I were him, I would still go with Australia, for a better working condition and hours in Australia’s healthcare system, I would take the risk. Worse case just take licensing exams and just move to somewhere that needs you, Doctors are needed everywhere anyways. At least you aren’t locked down to your country for 5+ years with bonds, especially not with the current torrent of issues caused by our magnificent adoption of the American Residency system. Sigh.

is it true that paeds residency only admits the best and brightest MOs?

How much does regs equivalent get paid per call and how often do they get calls?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Not the same person, but aren’t Doctors in the UK suffering under the NHS scheme? I heard they’re worked extraordinarily much and get paid very poorly. Sure you get to specialise, but that’s after at least going through F1 and F2. Besides that, there’s already reports of Doctors in UK flooding to places like Australia, where they can work less and get paid the same. I know Doctors shouldn’t complain about the hours they work, but Doctors are human too at some point we need to balance things that are also important to us like providing for our family and being there for our children. I think what he needs to understand is that it isn’t sunshine and rainbows anywhere he goes, even including Singapore, we have our fair share of problems here(being a local grad). We can’t tell what’s going to happen 6 years from now, sad to say, IMGs are in a precarious position currently. But I don’t think he will be out of a job with 500k down the drain, as long as he’s willing to take licensing exams for places like UK, sure it may waste some time, but a job is better than no job. If I were him, I would still go with Australia, for a better working condition and hours in Australia’s healthcare system, I would take the risk. Worse case just take licensing exams and just move to somewhere that needs you, Doctors are needed everywhere anyways. At least you aren’t locked down to your country for 5+ years with bonds, especially not with the current torrent of issues caused by our magnificent adoption of the American Residency system. Sigh.

yeah it is bad esp in underfilled regions, but still protected under european working time directive - no more than 48h/week over 26 wks. i dont think they are working more than average sg hospital doctor, perhaps in underfilled regions where they are unsupported

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Not the same person, but aren’t Doctors in the UK suffering under the NHS scheme? I heard they’re worked extraordinarily much and get paid very poorly. Sure you get to specialise, but that’s after at least going through F1 and F2. Besides that, there’s already reports of Doctors in UK flooding to places like Australia, where they can work less and get paid the same. I know Doctors shouldn’t complain about the hours they work, but Doctors are human too at some point we need to balance things that are also important to us like providing for our family and being there for our children. I think what he needs to understand is that it isn’t sunshine and rainbows anywhere he goes, even including Singapore, we have our fair share of problems here(being a local grad). We can’t tell what’s going to happen 6 years from now, sad to say, IMGs are in a precarious position currently. But I don’t think he will be out of a job with 500k down the drain, as long as he’s willing to take licensing exams for places like UK, sure it may waste some time, but a job is better than no job. If I were him, I would still go with Australia, for a better working condition and hours in Australia’s healthcare system, I would take the risk. Worse case just take licensing exams and just move to somewhere that needs you, Doctors are needed everywhere anyways. At least you aren’t locked down to your country for 5+ years with bonds, especially not with the current torrent of issues caused by our magnificent adoption of the American Residency system. Sigh.

What are the current issues with the residency system? (Other than there are not enough consultant posts?)