Ok. Let me be straight-forward here. I see many people boast about their children in UK practising medicine/dentistry and they are very proud. But I'll just assume that Pod is right. I will just take the maximum for 100k pound per annum. Very good pay no doubt around RM500k per year. And I will just compare the dentist example. I am ASSUMING that he makes another 10k per month so it's 35k per month. So 6k difference per month and 72k in difference per year. Able to buy a VIOS in Malaysia for 1 year? But what about the other side of the story?The sacrifices?
I'll just write what I think are the trade-offs for you to make the additional 72k per year.

1)You are away from your family members.
2) You are foreigner in people's country. The doctor that I spoke to told me that he did not feel at home there eg he had many Malaysians friends there but it just wasn't the same.
3) With that amount of money, you can hire a maid in Malaysia and a driver maybe? But in UK I do not think u can cuz labour is expensive.
4) You are able to live in a big house maybe?
5) You get more opportunities. Because you have more friends here, you are local here. You can buy more properties/land or whatever at a more affordable price and you feel you can do more with your money.
6) You are able to achieve a better work life balance. You want to learn golf/tennis whatever, you are able to hire a coach to teach you 1 to 1 because labour is still cheap here.

I am able to give only these few points here right now but I will add more as I think more about it.
I really hope you guys are able to just correct me if I am wrong. I really want to discuss further.
I know it is not right to talk about money money money. Because doctor is about ultimately about passion, I agree.
But from what I see, the doctor, a very good doctor btw. His passion is still there. But I think when you reach around 50+ and you see your friends making more money with less effort. It's normal to feel frustrated and I think the passion is somehow not that strong anymore. Because I believe every doctor also wants to invest their hard-earned money. And I think in Malaysia, even though you earn less, you are able to invest your money and you make more.

Let's be very honest with ourselves here. When we see someone doing medicine in the UK, we say wow he is a very successful doctor. He is very smart. He is able to become a doctor in the UK. But when someone studies medicine in local universities, I am not sure whether is it me only or what, I think he is just paying his way to BUY a medical degree.

But I see many Malaysians staying back in the UK to do their houseman there. Why not come back?

Maybe glamorous is not the right word. I apologize for that. But it seems that people feel that they are superior to those doing medicine in Malaysia. I mean, many people are so proud saying "I work in UK'. "I work in US" and I am not saying all, but most people I have encountered and talked to say "I am not coming back. The pay here is sh!t. I want to work in the UK. I want to earn in pound." It's as if pound is like "gold" whereas if you work in Malaysia, everything is so inferior compared in UK.

This post has been edited by Mr Kong: Aug 20 2013, 01:00 AM

No no I am not making a specific issue. My younger brother just got his A-Level results and he is undecided between doing the IMU-PMS or a local program. He is eligible for both. But I am doing some research for him.
I mean there has to be a reason why people are willing to pay 2x the money or even 3x the money to do medicine overseas. If their pay is almost the same, then why not save the money for better things?
Why is everyone saying that doctor overseas making much more?
I am not here to bash or insult anyone. I just think that it is hard for me to find people to discuss all these things because many doctors are far too busy to engage in a conversation like this, that's why I think discussing here is the best way to clear out my doubts.

This post has been edited by Mr Kong: Aug 20 2013, 01:13 AM

Sorry. My mistake again. But you get it? Why are people willing to spend 3x more to send their children to overseas to pursue a medical degree when eventually you may make more money in Malaysia. I know you might say you have to ask them yourself. But i see quite a few of you are doing medical here. So I wanna get some your thoughts and ideas why did you decide to NOT do medicine in Malaysia and why many of you are so eager to stay back in UK/Aus to practice medicine? It started off as a question to be honest, I am just listing my opinion and I hope that you guys are able to share your view cuz this is what forums are for.

This post has been edited by Mr Kong: Aug 20 2013, 01:34 AM

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?

This post has been edited by Mr Kong: Aug 20 2013, 11:56 AM

When I meant was your family. Not being able to see your family.

Are you able to save money there? Sorry to be intrusive, but what is your typical day like and how do you normally spend your weekends?

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.

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.