How is life as a doctor in Singapore?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

the private gp damn greedy
straight away start expensive meds.
simple Metformin amlo and simva can do the job.
I do hope he close down.

Happens frequently in private.
GPs and specialists over charging or choosing more expensive treatments to line their wallets.
Just saw another patient yesterday who was following up with a specialist (not Ortho / endocrine) for an unrelated issue, who has been on IV bisphosphonates costing 1000+ dollars a year, and she had no idea there was an oral alternative which prolly cost 10% of the cost. And she has no contraindication to oral bisphosphonates.

Another patient I had was given a customised combination steroid / moisturizer / antibiotic cream from private derm which was $300+, when the same individual creams can prolly be bought at $50 tops.

Most of the time it’s willing buyer, willing seller.
But the problem is that many patients are not even made aware of the alternatives.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Happens frequently in private.
GPs and specialists over charging or choosing more expensive treatments to line their wallets.
Just saw another patient yesterday who was following up with a specialist (not Ortho / endocrine) for an unrelated issue, who has been on IV bisphosphonates costing 1000+ dollars a year, and she had no idea there was an oral alternative which prolly cost 10% of the cost. And she has no contraindication to oral bisphosphonates.

Another patient I had was given a customised combination steroid / moisturizer / antibiotic cream from private derm which was $300+, when the same individual creams can prolly be bought at $50 tops.

Most of the time it’s willing buyer, willing seller.
But the problem is that many patients are not even made aware of the alternatives.

Simple solution. Separate dispensing from medical practices. Patients get prescription from the Dr. Bring it to the pharmacy to get it filled. Drs should be ethically barred by SMC from profiting from sale of medicines and drugs. It is 100% conflict of interest.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

If all primary care was under MOH/OPS then MOH can control costs. Limit the salaries of GPs. It would benefit all patients as they would pay less. Only ones to suffer are the GPs. Too bad. Private hospitals can have specialists only.

??
it's not the salary of gp that is the problem
if anything , gp salaries should be increase so they have more time to spend with each patient instead of trying to make ends meet by running a conveyor belt. quality of care will be different.

I have no problem with gp charging more expensive. it comes with shorter waiting time, more personalised service etc. and rising cost isn't helping their bottom line. a consult is now 18 to 25 bucks. seriously, with rent hitting 10k for a good spot, how u expect the gp to survive on consult charges only?

so, u want talk, also use some brains first.

my issue is with gp overcharging those who can't pay. aka my cleaner uncle

Originally Posted by Unregistered

??
it's not the salary of gp that is the problem
if anything , gp salaries should be increase so they have more time to spend with each patient instead of trying to make ends meet by running a conveyor belt. quality of care will be different.

I have no problem with gp charging more expensive. it comes with shorter waiting time, more personalised service etc. and rising cost isn't helping their bottom line. a consult is now 18 to 25 bucks. seriously, with rent hitting 10k for a good spot, how u expect the gp to survive on consult charges only?

so, u want talk, also use some brains first.

my issue is with gp overcharging those who can't pay. aka my cleaner uncle

GP charges is standard. This whole thinking about oh cleaner cannot pay then should charge cheaper?

If cannot afford then dont go pte GP. Go polyclinic. Why blame the GP for charging the same for all his patients? It is not the GPs fault.

I dont see cleaner go to pte specialist in Mt E or Gleneagles and say hey I cannot afford you jolly well charge me cheap cheap for my operation?

Double standard lah you.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Happens frequently in private.
GPs and specialists over charging or choosing more expensive treatments to line their wallets.
Just saw another patient yesterday who was following up with a specialist (not Ortho / endocrine) for an unrelated issue, who has been on IV bisphosphonates costing 1000+ dollars a year, and she had no idea there was an oral alternative which prolly cost 10% of the cost. And she has no contraindication to oral bisphosphonates.

Another patient I had was given a customised combination steroid / moisturizer / antibiotic cream from private derm which was $300+, when the same individual creams can prolly be bought at $50 tops.

Most of the time it’s willing buyer, willing seller.
But the problem is that many patients are not even made aware of the alternatives.

Wait wait wait what is IV biphosphanates. Are you sure you're a doctor? You're talking about teriparatide or denosumab I presume? Teriparatide and denosumab is indeed better for patients, with better improvements in bone density and less hassle. Not cheap both for the clinic and the patient. Must compare apples to apples.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Wait wait wait what is IV biphosphanates. Are you sure you're a doctor? You're talking about teriparatide or denosumab I presume? Teriparatide and denosumab is indeed better for patients, with better improvements in bone density and less hassle. Not cheap both for the clinic and the patient. Must compare apples to apples.

Yea IV biphosphanates rarely given except for like hyperCa

Originally Posted by Unregistered

GP charges is standard. This whole thinking about oh cleaner cannot pay then should charge cheaper?

If cannot afford then dont go pte GP. Go polyclinic. Why blame the GP for charging the same for all his patients? It is not the GPs fault.

I dont see cleaner go to pte specialist in Mt E or Gleneagles and say hey I cannot afford you jolly well charge me cheap cheap for my operation?

Double standard lah you.

Polyclinic
Locum/Private GP
Specialist Physician
Private specialist physician

From top to bottom, got money to no money patient. What u gain when u move from top to bottom? Privacy,time, attention

Been reading this forum n have many thoughts
1. Should require MCR to post so there will be less trolls
2. So much dispute about salary. Want to compare high earner in CS, compare apple w apple la w Raffles Medical CEO equivalent in medicine la. Truth is every field will have high earners. Most important is be happy w ur job so everyday go to work don’t feel like dying. Happiness is what money can’t buy
3. Junior doctors if unhappy w job now, not too late to switch. Can do moh posting till bond pay off, can do hospital admin, research, or total switch to do startup, business etc also can. Safe to say ur average doctor is smarter than the average Joe, so most likely the switch won’t be too challenging at least intellectually wise. Find something you love and do it for the next 30 years or so still got time.
4. Medicine , even if non procedural, won’t be replaced by AI or whatever in the next 100 years yet la. Don’t need argue w the trolls. U think Dr google can titrate their rheumatology meds meh? For the next 40/50 years, since medicine can’t be replaced yet, there will still a certain prestige that comes w the title (salary aside), because of the intelligence associated w the career and nature of it. Can’t say for the next few hundred years of cos. But If u r in medicine now, enjoy the privileged title that comes w ur job. No need explain so much to layman or trolls. If u r leaving medicine, u still have ur MBBS what. Keep it, enjoy it, and use it as a stepping stone to whatever else u r doing in future.

From a silent reader of this forum. I do well in my postings but have lately decided medicine is not for me. I just cannot see myself slogging it out on call for the next 10 years of my life plus minus. However I don’t regret going to Med sch because of the knowledge I learnt (very useful still), contacts built, and tbh I much rather get a professional degree to fall back on rather than some random degree like business admin. I have a privilege because I come from a background where financial worries are not a concern, but in spite of that I work hard. I have just successfully made a switch of career , using my mbbs as my stepping stone. Just want to give hope to everyone else here too.
And also maybe stop replying to sour grape trolls la. We all know they are the wannabes lol.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Been reading this forum n have many thoughts
1. Should require MCR to post so there will be less trolls
2. So much dispute about salary. Want to compare high earner in CS, compare apple w apple la w Raffles Medical CEO equivalent in medicine la. Truth is every field will have high earners. Most important is be happy w ur job so everyday go to work don’t feel like dying. Happiness is what money can’t buy
3. Junior doctors if unhappy w job now, not too late to switch. Can do moh posting till bond pay off, can do hospital admin, research, or total switch to do startup, business etc also can. Safe to say ur average doctor is smarter than the average Joe, so most likely the switch won’t be too challenging at least intellectually wise. Find something you love and do it for the next 30 years or so still got time.
4. Medicine , even if non procedural, won’t be replaced by AI or whatever in the next 100 years yet la. Don’t need argue w the trolls. U think Dr google can titrate their rheumatology meds meh? For the next 40/50 years, since medicine can’t be replaced yet, there will still a certain prestige that comes w the title (salary aside), because of the intelligence associated w the career and nature of it. Can’t say for the next few hundred years of cos. But If u r in medicine now, enjoy the privileged title that comes w ur job. No need explain so much to layman or trolls. If u r leaving medicine, u still have ur MBBS what. Keep it, enjoy it, and use it as a stepping stone to whatever else u r doing in future.

From a silent reader of this forum. I do well in my postings but have lately decided medicine is not for me. I just cannot see myself slogging it out on call for the next 10 years of my life plus minus. However I don’t regret going to Med sch because of the knowledge I learnt (very useful still), contacts built, and tbh I much rather get a professional degree to fall back on rather than some random degree like business admin. I have a privilege because I come from a background where financial worries are not a concern, but in spite of that I work hard. I have just successfully made a switch of career , using my mbbs as my stepping stone. Just want to give hope to everyone else here too.
And also maybe stop replying to sour grape trolls la. We all know they are the wannabes lol.

hi wall of text,
so what are u doing ah

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Yea IV biphosphanates rarely given except for like hyperCa

Bro u NV give iv zolendronic acid before?
Which hosp u working at?!

Cfm NV do Endo posting