Doctors make a DECENT living in the UK, and the majority of the Brits do it because they are interested in the job! Where are you getting the idea that its "glamorous to be a doctor in the UK"? At most, I will only go so far to say it's a noble and a respectable job.

Forgot to add, it's probably not a good idea to mortgage the family home to send the child to the UK for medicine. If said child is really interested, try and do it locally.

This post has been edited by podrunner: Aug 20 2013, 12:31 AM

It's not about the fame or money.

It's about helping people.

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?

how is that 'glamorous'?....

and it is true isn't it?.....the way medical students are selected in the uk and in private med schools in msia?.....

you are one very confused person...

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?

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

you are talking about a phenomena inherent in any country where there is a significant diaspora in developed countries.....similar attitudes exist in india, the phillipines, to give 2 examples....

and it applies to all jobs, so why are you making it a specific issue with doctors....in a medical student thread?....

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

nobody here is saying that....you came and said it yourself, and now extrapolate it to 'everybody'.....

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

Really? The one and only answer for those who chose med in the first place!

The most important consideration, as far as I am concerned, is the recognition of the medical degree from a PROPER and established medical school. IMU local, from what I gather, seem to be among the best local IPTS, so if your brother is intent on just practicing in Malaysia, where according to you, he will "eventually make more money" , then just do the local program.

Training - a medical degree is almost worthless without proper housemanship/internship training. IF those studying in UK/Aus get a spot for training (no guarantees due to reported saturation), there is an assurance of junior doctor competency upon registration with GMC/AMC. Since there is no guarantee that your brother will be able to train there after graduating, another plus point for IMU local? He may still get a housemanship post in 5/6 years from now, and it would probably be a rural posting WHICH makes for a decent multi-discipline training. Heck, he may be king in a small village! Another plus?

Some stay back in UK/Aus because they were trained in the system, and after spending that many years abroad, would probably have grown accustomed to life abroad, PLUS the fact that after the immigration status hurdle, they compete for specialty training etc on a level playing field. Some debate whether or not they should come back to be close to family, but I see less doing so from now (if they have a choice), in light of current developments in the healthcare industry.

IF your brother is doing it for the money, please DON'T do it...those days are long gone...all but a distant memory.

This post has been edited by podrunner: Aug 20 2013, 08:29 AM

Deleted

This post has been edited by podrunner: Aug 20 2013, 08:11 AM

I will tell you why. They deserve to go and the sponsor think its worthwhile doing it and happy doing it.

because it's not about money.....

you are seeing this from purely a bottom line point of view...

if you cannot see beyond that, it means you have not thought through all aspects of education, politics, career development and socioeconomics......so if you cannot see it, just ask your brother to do imu local, and stay and work in msia....and earn more money than uk nhs consultants.....

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 .

Wanna help people???? Then choose nurse, firefighter.....they help people also....

And then there's the reality of it all as discussed in this blog by those who are in the system and/or have indepth knowledge about what is happening. Have a go at it, you may enjoy it.

http://pagalavan.com

This post has been edited by podrunner: Aug 20 2013, 04:03 PM