How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

U sure or not? Consultant where got work so hard. He trying to get professorship ah or genuinely interested in research. My orthopedic con work 5 day a week, operate 2 days. Never rounds, even post call take got a junior ac to tank for him. The only time he pop up was when I suspect nec fas, WhatsApp him a pic then he show up with reg and go ot..
GM con even pro, some Cambridge grad, 9am rock up with coffebean coffee in one hand and a LV tote bag in the other. Stand there listen to story and goes ok, agree with plan next...ok, next. Dreams life lei. The reg totally rolled her eyes though..haha. actually the most siong one is GM and it's not the medicine but sorting out the patient life. Siong for junior . Other sub spec one all quite ok.

Old GP here. Can say this part is very accurate as Singapore healthcare is still very specialist-driven. Specialists are very well-paid for the work done which is mostly done by juniors in hospital anyway. As GP you need to slog yourself for half the specialist pay and you need to do it till you are old grandpa, while your specialist med school friends can retire a decade before you. Somemore if they want to work part-time while retired they can even locum as GP and steal your patients lol.

Advice to young birds don't do GP, and even if you don't heed that advice definitely don't get sucked in by their sweet talk and waste time doing the useless FM mmed which is not recognised anywhere.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Old GP here. Can say this part is very accurate as Singapore healthcare is still very specialist-driven. Specialists are very well-paid for the work done which is mostly done by juniors in hospital anyway. As GP you need to slog yourself for half the specialist pay and you need to do it till you are old grandpa, while your specialist med school friends can retire a decade before you. Somemore if they want to work part-time while retired they can even locum as GP and steal your patients lol.

Advice to young birds don't do GP, and even if you don't heed that advice definitely don't get sucked in by their sweet talk and waste time doing the useless FM mmed which is not recognised anywhere.

What about migrating? Do GP in Australia? Canada?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Old GP here. Can say this part is very accurate as Singapore healthcare is still very specialist-driven. Specialists are very well-paid for the work done which is mostly done by juniors in hospital anyway. As GP you need to slog yourself for half the specialist pay and you need to do it till you are old grandpa, while your specialist med school friends can retire a decade before you. Somemore if they want to work part-time while retired they can even locum as GP and steal your patients lol.

Advice to young birds don't do GP, and even if you don't heed that advice definitely don't get sucked in by their sweet talk and waste time doing the useless FM mmed which is not recognised anywhere.

If gps are paid 15k, then hospital specialists are paid 30k/mth?
Don't know who to believe, I am pgy 5 now, still keep in contact with some of my regs that I worked with as a HO (who are now consultant in both medical and surgical fields), don't think they get paid 30k leh. In fact, one of the friends got promoted to Neuro ac just 3 months back, he told me basic pay only 12.5k plus a few little add on allowance for your qualifications..
Unless you tell me ac to con to senior con the pay jump from 12.5k to 30k?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If gps are paid 15k, then hospital specialists are paid 30k/mth?
Don't know who to believe, I am pgy 5 now, still keep in contact with some of my regs that I worked with as a HO (who are now consultant in both medical and surgical fields), don't think they get paid 30k leh. In fact, one of the friends got promoted to Neuro ac just 3 months back, he told me basic pay only 12.5k plus a few little add on allowance for your qualifications..
Unless you tell me ac to con to senior con the pay jump from 12.5k to 30k?

As someone mentioned before
Gone are the days when the specialists get paid much more for procedures.
Medical specialties all paid roughly the same.
Same as FM cons in CH and OPS.

And as I’ve also said before
Salaried GP pay basically pretty much standard through the years.
Nothing fancy unless you own chain.
In public sector you get some pay increments based on your seniority contributions and appointments.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What about migrating? Do GP in Australia? Canada?

most people ultimately want to stay close to their loved ones ie. parents and siblings. if you do not have close family ties, then you are correct. becoming a GP in a western country gives you a better life and salary.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

most people ultimately want to stay close to their loved ones ie. parents and siblings. if you do not have close family ties, then you are correct. becoming a GP in a western country gives you a better life and salary.

I see. Ok in future when any young dr complains or is having second thoughts about career and monetary goals I will remind them about the privilege to live close to parents and siblings. It is a wonderful reason to make them feel better and happy.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

As someone mentioned before
Gone are the days when the specialists get paid much more for procedures.
Medical specialties all paid roughly the same.
Same as FM cons in CH and OPS.

And as I’ve also said before
Salaried GP pay basically pretty much standard through the years.
Nothing fancy unless you own chain.
In public sector you get some pay increments based on your seniority contributions and appointments.

Be happy lei. You living close to parents and siblings. Otherwise you could migrate ans ratn mire and have better work life balance. Dont complain.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I see. Ok in future when any young dr complains or is having second thoughts about career and monetary goals I will remind them about the privilege to live close to parents and siblings. It is a wonderful reason to make them feel better and happy.

Life is always about trade offs.
Expats get higher pay, housing allowance, children’s international sch fees covered, car allowance etc

It’s not just in medicine but in any other job.
Going overseas does offer you more opportunities and pay at the expense of proximity to your family and relatives.

Can’t have your cake and eat it too unfortunately.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Life is always about trade offs.
Expats get higher pay, housing allowance, children’s international sch fees covered, car allowance etc

It’s not just in medicine but in any other job.
Going overseas does offer you more opportunities and pay at the expense of proximity to your family and relatives.

Can’t have your cake and eat it too unfortunately.

I totally agree. BTW is it easy to migrate and work as GP in Australia or Canada? Aside from giving up being close to parents and siblings there are no other obstacles? You make it sound like it is very easy.

So if I dont have family ties in Singapore I can just pack my bags and go?

Anyone know how to get full reg as an overseas grad working under MOH? How many years on average and what kinda postings do they require u to do? Also, any short cuts? With just a conditional Reg, am stuck in MOHH and can’t open clinic sigh …