If you haven’t noticed, doctors rank very well in the top 100 jobs mentioned previously. Specialised surgeons (“specialist” doctors who perform surgeries) ranked number 1 with a 75th-percentile income of $22,821, while GPs came in 4th with $14,653.
These are only the 75th-percentile salaries. We can only speculate that at higher percentiles, doctors make much more.
Recall that Manpower Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen once said “You’re getting a bargain for the ministers you get… I worked half as much and earn(ed) five times more when I was in the private sector.” (Channelnewsasia, 9 September 2003)
Dr Ng was a consultant surgeon in private practice before he joined politics.
Even “part-time” general practitioners make a very comfortable living.
Locums are doctors who substitute temporarily for other doctors (see Wordnet definition). They are those whom you see when your family physician goes on a holiday.
The market rate for locums’ pay is $60 to $70 an hour. And it is not uncommon for a locum to get up to $700 per day.
But you ask: Do they get stand-in jobs all the time? The answer is yes. Lots of full-time doctors in private clinics and hospitals frequently need locums to cover them.
By the way, doctors are one of the most respected professions in Singapore. They deserve to be paid well.
950 Comments
could anybody here confirm what is annual nett earnings of a newly qualified orthopedic surgeon in a private group practice like RMG/Healthway etc (NOT net billings, as it varies dependingon where you get your clientel).
we have to understand that they will need to give a cut to the management for rent of theatre/support staff/nursing staff/ office etc.
management (GPs, medical and surgical speciaties) with predatory , blood sucking tendencies will be black listed very quickly over kopi talks amongst peers.
in Australia, a GP group with predatory inclinations is now finding hard to recruit doctors locally.
hi ISMAIL,
i was compelled to reply ur post on March 15th, 2012 at 7:47 pm.. Hope this is of help to you!!!
Are you MAD ismail?!….NO,n double NO NO!… resident physician in department of surgery is a mo’s job,you will be treated as one and most probably b bullied as one, of cos unless u have a ‘towering physique’!
Let me enlighten u of what ur daily duties r as a “glorified” mo:.. almost daily teaching,journal club meeting at 7am..followed on by routine ward rounds…then run off either to run surgical out-patients or to OT.. OT isn’t glamarous!.. u will first only allowed to assist a registrar(..apparently having same qualification as u, but of cos only a couple years of actual operative experience!)…you will b agitated by his /her operative skill bcos, well, as i gather u have worked in m’sia for the past 5 years at least at a clinical specialist post..so i’m sure u’ll shake ur head in dismay!.. u may try to give him/her some good ol’ operative tips, but he’ll just look at u in amazement wonderin wat d fcuk u just said.. then he’ll start to boast about his laparoscopic prowess!..”i do tis i do dat…published tis publish dat”….. blah blah ,but lil’ he know dat u have actually managed an entire department of surgery done gd ol’ conventional open surgeries with a stroke of ur scapel!!… laparoscopy r for wanna bees!,u have probably done all d surgeries there is from head to toe in ur years of practice.. but to tis registrar u r only a “cow-boy” surgeon.. well, a 3rd world class surgeon to b precise…. then in d midst of it all u’l be wondering why d fcuk all d hoohah of lap. extraperitoneal approach to a tiny-weenee hernia where u would just do an open hernia repair with an incision of 2cm n further more under local anaesthetic in about 1/4 of d operating time!!??… then u sigh in disbelief!!
i will relate all of my experiences to u if u r keen … but for d time being, my SINCERE ADVISE
Hi Ismail,
my sincere advise to u is dat: STAY WHERE U R NOWIN M’SIA, CONSIDER NEGOTIATING WIF M’SIA GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW U PERMANENT STATUS, TAKE UP TEACHING, N PERHAPS SOON ENUF U CAN B IN A LUCRATIVE PRIVATE HOSP!!
But if u insist sgp pay is worthwhile to slog for then at least negotiate for at least a service registrar post….remember Ismail, resident physician is a “glorified” mo’s job in sgp.
oh i almost forgot… in all surg department in sgp there is a weekly(usually fridays) Mortality+Morbidity Meeting!…u will never have tis sort of experience in malaysia!.. its a “screw,bang,slag” M.O.session where ALL surgical specialties,HOD will b there to take a swipe at u!!.. some really take pride in making u look like a fool…but, hey i guess dats all part of surgical training rite?
…just my 2 cents worth
Dear drdjupri,
I surely will need more information from you.Can you write to my e mail or provide me with your phone number wherever you may be located,if it is acceptable with you?
regards
needed to warn u Ismail, who ever offered u tis post is truly exploiting u to d max!!..
..come ‘on Ismail, u r or was an assoc. prof. u can do better than tis bro.
..by d way, HOD’s in sgp get “jittery” about “assoc. prof” from india.. they tend to regard u as having a “sham” degree…. so during d interview please do not highlight ur assoc. prof, in fact dont even state it in ur cv unless ur have published many many studies or articles in reputed journals.
..just my 2 cents worth
thank you,but how to contact you now?
email me : [email protected]
thanks
ok
you never replied my e mail
Hi Ismail,
kindly email to [email protected]
Hi,
Wonder anyone could provide me the info on how much is night duty allowance as well as specialist allowance for doctors (consultant, registrar, etc) in singapore ??
Thanks!
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Hi
I am a Consultant Histopathologist in the UK working in this post for the last 2 years. I am an indian who graduated from St Johns in India (recognised by sg) and then migrated to the UK where I attained my FRCPath. Would anyone be able to give me some idea of what standards of Histopathology are in SG and what level of consultant and pay scale I may expect if i apply for a position.
I would like to shift for social and personal reasons but do not want to compromise on the standards of medical practice which I regard as essential in healthcare. Ideally I would like to join a teaching institute. Is there anything specific that I should be thinking about. Thanks a lot.
Regards
Dr AR
PS The reason I chose to look at Singapore is because I would like to think that it is a good combination of asian culture and progressive thinking. This link has given debate on this subject. As always things don’t seem as rosy as they do from outside, but im confident that there are some good professional institutions out there that value their professionals as much as professional value the institution. Are there any consultants out there who can give a balanced view of whats going on? Thanks
Dr AR
dr ajr
if they offer you the right terms and perks, why not?
have you considered working in australia, where the pay (even after taxes) is a lot better than in sgp? you will have no problems passing the australian exams.
The problem with working in Oz is of cause the severe racism and bigotry Indians and also all other Asians there face from the incorrigible whites.
i work in australia and my overall exeprience has been excellent. there are racists people everywhere, and that includes singapore.
anyway, the Aboriginals are the First Australians.
i seem to have encountered more Full of nonsense patients/nasty patients in my working life in singapore, than racists patients in australia (i can count the number of brushes with racism in australia, but have lost count of the number of FON patients in singapore)
working here has been a very personal choice and it will suit some while not others.
if you have a large inheiritance waiting for you in singapore or if you are part of the Familee elite/those with dirty money, then you are wasting your time in australia.
but if you are a hard working nurse/junior dr who has hit the glass ceiling in singapore, then do give working life in australia a damn!
anyway, i will be doing some shifts at Christmas Island (part of Western Australia) which was part of singapore till the 1950s! the number of malay/hokkien speakers (who now proudly proclaim themselves as Australians) do outnumber the ‘mainlanders’ *u need to read between the lines to know what i am talking about* ;).
i beg to differ.
there are FON patients everywhere but at least in your home country you won’t face racism.
Australians still strongly believe in white supremacy theories (remember pauline hanson) and the xenophobia and hatred of Asian immigrants is well known.
Of course if you are in some ulu rural place it may not be so bad, but its definitely much much worse in the bigger cities.
yours matey, i beg to differ
another MOHH staff in disguise here.
the first australians are the Aboriginal people and the government here has been pumping in a lot of money to close the gap between indigenous and non indigenous australians.
in my home country in singapore, i face being discriminated by my own kind (which is lagi worse)
being discriminated by your own kind cuts a lot deeper !!!
after 911, asians have not been subjected to the ssame kind of racism as during the days of hanson.
u are trying to convince your singaporean and malaysian drs from uk to come back to sgp is it? LOL. they will make up their minds. your white bigoted bogey man theories are in fact a bit outdated lah. think of something new
pay wise, we all know where is better and so please stop conning us here lah.
The health care system here in australia are more pro health care providers (unless it is due to medical negligence), rather than FON patients whereas in singapore, FON patients do have an upper hand when they lodge a complaint.i have been in the sgp hospital system (will not give away the names of the hospital) and i have been asked to answer complaint letters from FON patients. PRC patients are also well known to throw their weight around.
anyway thanks for sponsoring the nice makan sessions last year at your recruitment talk in australia and i do hope to come again (if i am invited 😉 ).
No, i’m not from the ministry. Just sounding out a word of caution to doctors here who thinks the “grass in greener” on the other side.
Racisim is a bit outdated, yes, but it’s also persistent and a fact. The news reports of Indian students being bullied and physically abused is just one of the recent examples.
Though you on the other hand do come across quite strongly as some Aussie health recruiter!
aiyo yoursmatey
trying to play back those old propaganda about racism in australia, that sounds very juvenile.
please try something baru lah.
me as an aussie health recruiter??? chun bo??
lol. i do not receive any monetary benefits by recruiting drs here
u cakap as if discriminasi does not occur in singapore, please lah, go and open our eyes and see how many training positions are denied to singaporeans who served ns and given to FTs instead.
for a fact, being bullied and discriminated by our fellow asians cuts a lot deeper. if that is not discrimination, what do you want to call it?
young singaporean and malaysian drs are mature enough to make up their mind where they want to work.
a smart aussie/uk trained dr will come and trial it out in sgp after they have obtained their post grad qualifications. will be difficult to poach those who have either finished their ns liabilities/full registration in australia/nz.
kim: what is your poison ? LOL
No, I am not from any ministry or recruiter, but .. are you serious FT are given preferance over local talent in SG ? ah .. come on ..
FT – MO, starting pay 3,000
Local talent ? MO – starting pay 4,000
two months ago, doctors got a pay rise – in govt hospitals – FT – 200 $ for MO, LT ? well, 1,200
You got your knickers twisted somewhere
Oh, discriminated by your own kind ? well, then too bad .. it happens everywhere ..
Don’t equate that to discrimination by FT
Actually, show me ONE FT here who can rule the roost ? Unless of course you make Malaysians as FT .. which I lost the argument here ..
Like the former in-house jester, don’t brand me as a stooge of the govt or any recruiter – I am just a neutral observer !!
Link below is just a recent example of Australians’ deep bigotry towards Asians.
As i said before, grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_against_Indians_in_Australia_controversy
people will make up their mind where the grass is greener. no amount of propaganda spewed by any party will change the hearts and minds of people who want to emigrate/return. people are entitled to their own opinion.
what hurts most is being discriminated by our own kind in singapore.
just answer me this query if it is true that foreign nurses in singapore have to surrender their passports to Human resourcewhen they are employed on their first contract????true or false? in australia, this system is never allowed. please tell me that such system does not exist in singapore.
working conditions wise in singapore – please see the earlier posts here in this forum and in other blog spots. young junior drs’/nurses working conditions in singapore, as opposed to those of their peers in uk/australia/nz.
pay wise in australia (after tax)????? have you taken that into account.
pay of GPs/nurses and new specialists in australia – the information is easy to get from online.
the graass being brown or not is very subjective. depends on what people want in their bank account at the end of the day.
my dear kim, who discriminated against you?
as far as i know, our malays, indians and chinese exist fairly harmoniously in the hospital environment.
no one’s been held back from consultant posts / becoming head of department because of race.
whilst the racism is extremely prevalent in Australia (i’ve referenced the link earlier)
so i’m not sure what you are talking about.
dearest yoursmatey
you are bitching about racism in australia, but then you have failed to address the issues of discrimination against health care workers in singapore.
what you say doesn’t hold water my dear.
tell me if it is true that nurses from other asian countries who are on their first contract have their passports impounded for ‘safe keeping’ by hospital HR departments? all i want you to do is to refute this statement.if they wish to take urgent leave to return to their home countries, they need to have part of their salary witheld
why is it necessary to impound their passports? isn’t it outright discrimination, or simply institutionalised racism?
foreign nurses, ie prc/pinoys are not paid the same as singaporean nurses – true or false.
this discrimination goes both way, as everybody at a similar level should be paid similar wages.
.
in australia, every health care worker is paid award wages, regardless of their nationality.
give me a nasi lemak and nasi ayam chicken rice! ;); playing the racism card is so yesterday. try something new lah.
You are right, you know. Your points are valid.
But one VERY big thing is different, at least you DON’T GET STABBED walking on the streets cause some of the “locals” don’t like your face! (pls read the link if you haven’t)
PS stop droppping all the singaporean food examples, firstly its annoying, and secondly its making me hungry.
discrimination goes both way. why u go on receiving end ?
I think the main point that Kim was making in his earlier posts is that discrimination against born and bred Singaporeans exists in the local healthcare system, especially if one have no “connections” (then again, if one had connections one probably wouldn’t need to study medicine overseas). While in USA/UK/Australia everyone have a fair and equal fighting chance for training spots against other non-whites, in Singapore “connections” are everything and can even buy you a President Scholarship and a newly-created NS scientist vocation (ie., Dr Patrick Tan).
The other point made by Kim about favoritism being shown to FTs in is equally appalling too. I understand from friends in the system that this favoritism now even extends to local medical school entry, with the local school DukeNUS having a very high proportion (>50%) of FTs or “new citizens” (free citizenship given with degree, no need to serve NS!), and many even receive scholarships and guaranteed training spots over local born and bred citizens. All the while our sons and daughters continually go to USA/UK/Australia to study medicine and eventually practice there. I doubt the FTs would benefit Singapore in the long run as they have no loyalty to Singapore and probably see her as merely a stepping stone to first-world countries.
Yeah but that’s off-topic. The point is whether there is racism against Asians in Aus and the answer is yes. So already practising doctors should choose to stay in Sg then go overseas and face racism.
yes there are definitely FT problems, but that’s a topic you should take to Temasek Review or the like.
yoursmatey
lol. you seem to have a point to grind about racism against asians and asian drs in australia and you are telling dr oz to take the topic to temasek review !????
*laughing out loud*. u have posted a link about asians being assaulted in oz, but you have failed to mention that a singaporean taxi driver was assaulted by angmoh /Korean/PRC/Malaysians in Singapore proper itself..
another joker lu. why don’t you take this topic to temasek review yourself
your statement about already practising drs should choose to stay in sgp then go overseas and face racism doesn’t hold water.
drs in singapore will decide for themselves what they want in life, if they want a bigger wallet in their bank account/better quality of life.
they have definitely thought of the racism factor too. some drs cannot get into an advanced training position and they know that they have hit the glass ceiling. The only way is to go oveseas and scale the mountain there, even if it means that they have to start all over again. we will not throw names here.
no where is picture perfect my dear.
what is meant for Dr Holland Road/Bukit Timah/ will not apply for Dr Jalan ulu ulu.
one thing for sure, drs who are already practising like susan lim , woffles wu , martin huang, JJ Chua, Georgia Lim, Joyce lam, prof chee yc, blue blood drs will stay put in singapore and not waste their time overseas!
u are insulting the intelligence of singaporeans here and it is very arrogant of you to do that in this forum.
i have no problems with FT, but they should be paid the same wages as local singaporeans, and it is a win win situation for both sides of the coin.
are you serious? u are comparing a single local crime in Singapore to the general widespread racism in Aus? did you even read the article?
i feel i’ve wasted my breath with you. to each his/ her own.
stay in Aus for all you want. for me, there’s nowhere that compares to the comfort of home.
@kim: I would add Dr Susan Lim, Dr Lee Wei Ling, Dr George M and more to that List LOL
This explains why even talented Foreigner doctors don’t stick around, even when they have Singapore spouse … as of now, I can bet that all govt hospitals are severely short handed, so much so that a 24 hour clinic just had one MO on the night – and was a foreigner, and no dinner/toilet break. Must be fun ..
::: i have no problems with FT, but they should be paid the same wages as local singaporeans, and it is a win win situation for both sides of the coin. :::
Why is radiology taken out of the poly courses. Or could be I missed it out? Can anyone find it for me? I really want it!
michael, are u peering at the world from your hole in the ground ? Look at http://www.salary.sg/2012/graduate-employment-survey-2011-published-2012/#comment-15196
some foreign docs got housing allowance, do u get ?
With havin so much content and articles do you ever run
into any issues of plagorism or copyright infringement?
My blog has a lot of exclusive content I’ve either created myself or outsourced but it appears a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my permission. Do you know any solutions to help reduce content from being ripped off? I’d certainly appreciate it.
AS a foreign doctor, I was looking, with hope, to singapore as possibly a good place to practice medicine. Not as somewhere to use, but as somewhere I could learn and hone my skills, whilst providing the state with a vaulable service.
I have to say, that having read this forum and its posts, I would now put Singapore as LAST on my list of places to work as a medic.
Your healthcare system is the epitomy of a failing system:
– reluctant to change – seniors expressing that dismissive ” we went through it, so you should have to too” attitude to unfair hours/pay. It is simply incorrect to suggest that insanely long and dangerous shifts are necessary to clerk the required number of cases to become a specialist in any area. Look around – healthcare systems all over the world are now running from this way of training.
– Nurses sniping at doctors instead of working to gether
– threats from administrators to curb free speech
– Open expression of “kiss my ass, buy me gifts” attitude to advancing ones career
– Fear\discrimination of foreigners
Good luck trying to lure foreign doctors to Singapore. With the views expressed here on this forum, particularly by the seniors and administrators, anyone with half a brain would run a mile
Hello,
I’m working as 3rd year of resident in neurosurgery in south korea.
From Feb.2014, I will become specialist in neurosurgery and my interest is in brain tumor (subspeciality).
I want to know the course/any steps i may take to work as brain surgeon in singapore and the pay salary i can expect from it.
Thank u. For any replies, highly appreciate.
http://www.australiandoctor.com.au/news/latest-news/overseas-students-given-internship-priority
hey, overseas students are now given internship priority in victoria.
year after year, the kiasi health departments all over australia has been crying wolf about overseas student internship placements.
at the last min, the victorian overseas students are given internship placements. as i have predicted lah.
health departments in australia are more kiasi than MOHH recruitment. lol
Can anybody help me with this information?
-What are the minimum skills and competencies required to function as a RESIDENT PHYSICIAN in SURGERY?….Any must do procedures or skills?
-I will be joining TTSH by Sept this year,Have been a Asso,Prof in Surgery,already 48 yrs old
regards
Im a urologist, having done my undergrad, and specialist fellowship in south africa.
Is there a need for urologists in Singapore?
Are South African qualifications recognised?
ISMAIL,
Did you sign your contract as a Resident physician?
yes
ISMAIL,
dun expect any career progress if you were to join as a resident physician(RP).RP is like an experienced MO,you wun get to operate,maybe only stuffs like removing drain,dressing etc.
why did you give up ur position as an assoc. prof and down grade urself to RP?Is it worthwhile?
has anyone ever worked with International SOS,either as a coordinating doctor,Emergency physcian or anything?please share you experience.
thank you.
hi..can anybody help me out in choosing the best among SG,UAE & UK..I am presently in one of the gulf countries & did my MRCPCH .( paeds)
please
Hi James Perumal
I am looking to move to Singapore for family reasons after working in UK for1yr as medical consultant . Is there a chance I can chat to you . Please let me know your convenience . Hope you have settled in Singapore .
Thanks
Hi Jack
I have just been reading your previous threads . Hope you managed to negotiate a deal . I am looking move to Singapore after being a medical consultant in UK for 1 yr . Is there a chance I can chat to you please ?
Thanks
I have graduated (MD) from Republic of Belarus (Former USSR country). After my internship i am working as a senior house officer at orthopaedic unit Srijayawardanapura general hospital, Srilanka for two years.are there any opportunity for me to work in singapore? please help me.