Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Datuk Dr Tharmaseelan revealed on last Sunday August 18, 2013 that some 5,000 doctors are graduating yearly. If the number is probable, then there are just “too many doctors.” However, I'm not sure how Dr Tharmaseelan intended it to be understood. Too many doctors against what? He also claimed that there are now about 40,000 active doctors in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, in a separate report, people can tell that Dr Subramaniam clearly feel that the number of medical graduates being churned out yearly definitely cannot meet the Health Ministry target of 85,000 doctors by the year 2020. [Rough estimation: 40,000 + (2020 − 2013) × 5,000 = 75,000]. Could this be one of the reasons that the Health Ministry is approving more medical schools?
Would you be able to discuss about the recommended doctor-to-patients ratio in a developing country?

If you are from KL.the difference in cost is significant but if you are out of KL, really going to UK [not so OZ despite the lower exchange at the moment] is a no brainer ;that is provided you can secure a place .

Hey onelove and podrunner, I really appreciate your comments. All I wanted to know was why so many students want to stay back in Aus/UK after studying. I thought money was one of the main factors. But it seems that I was wrong. From what I've read, you guys are implying that money is not the main factor. I am surprised to be honest. The main reason why I post on this medical thread is because I want people like you guys who are in the system to explain all these things that only you guys will know. Because my brother wants to know all these things, so I decided to ask in this forum. The reason why I ask about money is because I wanted to clear up certain things. In fact, I do not think a money-minded doctor is not a passionate doctor. Everyone does things for a reason. If money is a motivation and you can do a competent job, why be embarrassed to say you are driven by money? If a doctor driven by money is more competent, I am sure many of us would not mind as long as he does a good job and he is ethical, transparent and responsible in what he does. While I agree that the days where doctors make good money is over, I also see this in many industries. On the other hand, I would like to know, don't you guys feel lonely there? I mean skype and facetime is just not the same with seeing someone face to face. Do you guys plan to stay there for the rest of your lives?
Thanks?

Actually for a gp practice, 600 patients a month is considered a small practice, and if it is in a high cost environment, after deducting running expenses including staffing, there may not be much left over......

It would however, be a busy practice in a specialist setting.....

Remember running cost is a fixed cost, no matter how busy or light the practice is.....there is a breakeven point, which will vary.....so for most gp practices, at current charge levels, the first 10 to 20 patients may be just paying for rent, salaries etc....

mMA I
I am referring to per day basis....if the overheads per day is more than 20 patients' income, it's a too high cost location, and not worth running the clinic......

I’m grateful for your sharing of the blog’s link. It’s an enjoyable experience reading the posts and discussions. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today launched the country’s first Permata Children’s Specialist Hospital at UKM Medical Centre in Cheras. What should one major in if he or she wants to become a pediatrician?

Perhaps I should rephrase my question in clarity. Given what you know professionally as a resourceful medical specialist, maybe you can shed some light on my queries.

(1) How specifically do medical practitioners receive their training in pediatric medicine?

(2) Do medical graduates begin specialization in pediatrics before or after their completion of MBBS degree?

(3) Are medical practitioners required to become licensed before they can undertake the training in pediatric medicine?

And by the way, I’ll follow Dr Pagalavan’s blog.

I doubt I can get half of that.
In Ipoh, even paying upfront of RM5 with ING card, the bill still comes to RM50 to RM55 per visit to a GP. And physicians in KPJ ipoh are charging RM100 per visit for review. That was why I was informed by an MO at government clinics that there are more patients than before.
Seriously, medical costs are getting out of control. And it doesn't help with all the denial going on. And conclude that we are still cheapest among other countries!!

consultation charge is not time based.....if the consult is 2 hrs, it's still the same charge....

but if consumers prefer it to be time based, like some lawyers, i am sure doctors are only too happy to oblige....

Tell me a cardiologist who charges RM200 for 2 hours consultation and I will recommend many patients to him!

Yeah. I agree with you as well. I think Pagalavan's blog is a bit negative. It frightens people away when the reality is all the industries are getting competitive. You will hear business people saying: "Oh it was easier to make money last time." But all the industries are changing and the medical field is no exception as well. I agree that
there are going to many doctors in Malaysia in the future, but I believe that the competent ones will still earn a comfortable living. I think many people are frustrated that many medical schools in Malaysia are accepting students who are way below average. But to be honest, a person with let's say AAB, having scored 78 for his B. I am sure medical schools in UK or Australia would MOST LIKELY reject him. But can we conclude that he would not be a competent doctor? I think in countries like UK or Australia, one screwed-up result and your dream of becoming a doctor is gone unless you do a postgraduate. In every kind of industry, you screw up once, you can still try again. But I think for medical, they seem to be less forgiving, and I think it does not make sense. Andy Murray recently won his first grand slam after so many attempts. Some people are late boomers, they mature later and they tend to do better as they age. But sorry, in UK if you got ABB/AAB for your A-Level, say bye bye to medicine.

No it's not fair to judge so prematurely. But because the nature of this career/course, they have to be strict on requirements. That's the fairest way to judge. It's not right to say that it is unjust that someone didn't get to do med because he/she screwed up just 1 subject. In real life, if you screw up a dosage, or failed to do ONE thing, like charting prophylaxis ABx, the patient might die. I don't know how do you feel about the responsibility of being a doctor, but for me, it is pretty scary. You hold in your hands, someone's life. One missed info in history can mean life or death, a second of blank mind can kill a patient. Before I entered med, I thought I understood. But I was wrong, it is far FAR different from what I imagined.

So, back to the point. Why bother setting a high bar for med course?

But as far as I know, most medical schools in UK do not accept students who retake their A-Levels. They only take in students who did well at the first attempt.

I would say that AAB or ABB does not deserve a place in UK for a fact that there are just too many with better results. A* is above 90 marks so deserving candidates should achieve that even though one question may get screwed. If its 95 marks or higher, to score consistently may be difficult  but above 90 should be fair. Anyway conditional entry now requires just 1 or 2 A* but i think this is normally issued on the basis that the forecast is at least 2A*.
On the local front, as long as they meet the basic requirements, let them do it. Whether they can survive or not is up to them with their level if competency. Those with strong networking but lacking in quality can still make it by having a partnership or something similar to Alibaba.Many professions are working along this line and medical profession is no exception.

mr. kong is referring to people who retake their a levels....NOT applying the next year with your first a level results....

http://www.buckingham.ac.uk/medicine/under...bchb/admissions

Recognition ?