How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi guys, what do fam med consultants do after they graduate from residency? Is there a bottle neck like with other specialties? Do they only see patients in OPS? What is the 5 year programme like? Thank you very much for enlightening.

Fm is a diverse specialty. After completion of 3 years residency, they will sit for mmed(fm) at the 4th year. They may join polyclinic as senior doctors (fm physicians) or start their own practice.

Fm can practise in comm hosp setting as well.

If they are keen to be educators, or hold senior leadership positions in polyclinic they may continue to pursue a 2 years fellowship. After the 2 years fellowship they may be awarded a fcfps.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Fm is a diverse specialty. After completion of 3 years residency, they will sit for mmed(fm) at the 4th year. They may join polyclinic as senior doctors (fm physicians) or start their own practice.

Fm can practise in comm hosp setting as well.

If they are keen to be educators, or hold senior leadership positions in polyclinic they may continue to pursue a 2 years fellowship. After the 2 years fellowship they may be awarded a fcfps.

Thanks !! So the whole residency for fam med is just 3 years? That's quite a lot less than the other residency programmes which are around 5 years +? What kind of senior positions are there in OPS? Do the fam med consultants earn comparatively less than their colleagues in other specialties?

Hi everyone, I’m a current HO, Irish grad, PEG holder. Going into my 6th month as HO.
I’m interested in applying for IM/FM residency next cycle. However I honestly don’t think I’m competitive enough for either at this point. I have managed to clear all my P1 assessments so far but they are touch and go. Not particularly outstanding. Still struggling to adapt to the local system a bit. My current boss has quite high expectations so I don’t think I were to get an outstanding review this month even if I were to pass.
Can I seek some advice as to tips to strengthen my application, impress bosses, mopex postings to choose etc so that I will have a decent shot at residency once it comes time to apply at the end of the year? This is my 2nd IM posting (They like to make IMGs do 2 IM postings) and I only have my GS HO posting left plus a 4 month interim mopex before applications open. Thinking of sitting MRCP part 1 in mid Sept but may be hard given that GS is my last posting and I’m currently planned to finish HO in early Sept. (assuming I clear all my P1 with nil issue).

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Thanks !! So the whole residency for fam med is just 3 years? That's quite a lot less than the other residency programmes which are around 5 years +? What kind of senior positions are there in OPS? Do the fam med consultants earn comparatively less than their colleagues in other specialties?

Actually a full fellowship fm con earn same as a hosp specialist con in public

In pte sector it depends on strategy as you are ur own boss, google keywords, seo your website, location, see who works harder, serve more pte cilents.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Actually a full fellowship fm con earn same as a hosp specialist con in public

In pte sector it depends on strategy as you are ur own boss, google keywords, seo your website, location, see who works harder, serve more pte cilents.

Ah I see ! Thank you ! Would love to hear more about what they do in OPS as a fam med con. Sounds like something I might be keen on venturing into in the future.

[Sayonara]

I would love a quick answer on this one if anyone can.

I just got accepted for an exchange to NUS for 2 months.
A few months back when I applied I was very excited for the exchange.
However since I've red online and talked to a singaporian student I've realized that working 80 hours per week as a doctor isnt anything for me (I live in Sweden, working hours for doctors is about 40 hours per week).

Problem now is that I can't really decide wether to go or not.
Housing is very expensive and the exchange will cost me a lot of money.

My question is:
Is working as a doctor really as bad as people say in Singapore? 80h weeks, medium pay.
Worth going on exchange anyway? Will probably cost me about 3000-4000 euro.

Originally Posted by Sayonara

I would love a quick answer on this one if anyone can.

I just got accepted for an exchange to NUS for 2 months.
A few months back when I applied I was very excited for the exchange.
However since I've red online and talked to a singaporian student I've realized that working 80 hours per week as a doctor isnt anything for me (I live in Sweden, working hours for doctors is about 40 hours per week).

Problem now is that I can't really decide wether to go or not.
Housing is very expensive and the exchange will cost me a lot of money.

My question is:
Is working as a doctor really as bad as people say in Singapore? 80h weeks, medium pay.
Worth going on exchange anyway? Will probably cost me about 3000-4000 euro.

You are coming for an exchange. I find it enlightening to see different culture

You most probably wont want to come here to work as life is tougher (longer working hours) but for an exchange or holiday i would say take the opportunity to see a different culture.
80hours is just for early stages of training. I work closer to 40hours actually and get 8-9 of sleep per night. Once you become consultant or gp, life is quite good.

However do take note that there is covid situation in singapore. Understand that european situation is worsening rapidly.

Originally Posted by Sayonara

I would love a quick answer on this one if anyone can.

I just got accepted for an exchange to NUS for 2 months.
A few months back when I applied I was very excited for the exchange.
However since I've red online and talked to a singaporian student I've realized that working 80 hours per week as a doctor isnt anything for me (I live in Sweden, working hours for doctors is about 40 hours per week).

Problem now is that I can't really decide wether to go or not.
Housing is very expensive and the exchange will cost me a lot of money.

My question is:
Is working as a doctor really as bad as people say in Singapore? 80h weeks, medium pay.
Worth going on exchange anyway? Will probably cost me about 3000-4000 euro.

I dont think you get paid as an exchange student.

As an exchange student they wont really ask you to work 80h. In fact it is probably up to you how many hours you want to work.

If it is going to cost you too much money then forget it. There is nothing really to learn from Singapore except the fact that doctors are worked to the bone like slaves and treated badly by patients. Awful society totally materialistic.

You don't want to do an exchange program to know that. Go as a tourist and have a good time instead.

[Sayonara]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I dont think you get paid as an exchange student.

As an exchange student they wont really ask you to work 80h. In fact it is probably up to you how many hours you want to work.

If it is going to cost you too much money then forget it. There is nothing really to learn from Singapore except the fact that doctors are worked to the bone like slaves and treated badly by patients. Awful society totally materialistic.

You don't want to do an exchange program to know that. Go as a tourist and have a good time instead.

I meant that before when I first applied I was actually thinking that working there would be nice because I just came home from a vacation there (this was in august after summer).

Since then I've talked to students from there and also searched the web and I've heard that working conditions are not the best.

Now when I got the answer from school, I wasn't really sure anymore.

I might save the money or take an exchange somewhere else.
Thank you for your advice... So it is really that bad?

How long are you a "junior doctor" and have to work so many hours?

Why haven't adopted the way of working as western doctors? It is a rich country and could do that.

Originally Posted by Sayonara

I meant that before when I first applied I was actually thinking that working there would be nice because I just came home from a vacation there (this was in august after summer).

Since then I've talked to students from there and also searched the web and I've heard that working conditions are not the best.

Now when I got the answer from school, I wasn't really sure anymore.

I might save the money or take an exchange somewhere else.
Thank you for your advice... So it is really that bad?

How long are you a "junior doctor" and have to work so many hours?

Why haven't adopted the way of working as western doctors? It is a rich country and could do that.

To keep healthcare cheap and gain neccessary experience, it is imperative that junior doctors work longer.
Actually 80 is very good. It used to be 160 hours, with calls every other day and no extra pay for the calls last time. Practically stay in hosp every day.
Anyway it is a rite of passage. And conditions are really good now compared to last time.