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

The trend seems to be the same in sg as well for UGlasgow.

No one can tell you that they will stay in a place for long. Things change and mobility is much more easy than previously. You go where you want to be.

Yeah, bolehland is still a nice country to be with lots of good food and sunshine and of course with the so called childhood and best friends. Wherever you are, think positive and live happily.

Yesterday in The Star: A letter from a Practicing Doctor (Sorry, din have the link)

A practicing doctor in KL highlighted that eventhough he works 7.5 hours a day and 5 days a week and average 600 patients a month, his net income is only about RM1,000 per month!!

I think its time for him to close his clinic and look for a full time job. This is pure MANAGEMENT FAILURE and surely does not reflect other doctors' earnings.

Then probably it could be true. Could also include holidays and investments.

But he also said BELOW poverty line.

In kl Sunway area, a GP charges RM80 to RM90 per visit for fever and running nose. Assuming 600 patients a month, gross income is abt RM50k. Less expenses still can get RM30k. Inclusive of lab tests can earn additional 10k at least. Open a nursing home can add another 10k. Do part time lecturing another 5k. Additional income from referrals.
These are facts. But it's the norm when trying to justify increase in fees, costs are jacked up and revenue under declare.

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!!

You can say what you want but what I said are all facts. There is no need to be defensive and twist things around. If any, there are doctors who have been exploiting the public and such incidents are getting more regular.

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

Yeah. I will carry a med book with me and take my time seeking clarifications as I don't get such opportunity normally paying RM150 for abt 5 minutes of examination. I am more lucky as I charge no less than RM400 per hour on special assignment.

Practicing doctors should not paint a doom and gloom picture for young and aspiring doctors. A competent doctor or for that matter, any other professional will still have a comfortable life.
I have looked at various financials of specialists and GPs and almost all of them are earning amounts comparable to other professions. An ordinary GP friend of mine has managed to sent 3 kids to oz for education and acquire several properties including some in kl. Surely he is above poverty line though he may not fall into that category for a luxurious living.
Agreed that the good old days are over but surely earnings of RM30k to 50k a month is comfortable. And since the passion is helping ppl, is it not rewarding.
And surely, there are many good things to pass on to aspiring doctors rather than constant doom before they even started.
Paga's blog is good for knowledge but I supported the commenter that blasted the senior doctors for not sharing their experiences but making things difficult for the HO and the MOs.

To me, any GP who sets up clinic in the last two years would be drawing much less than their last posting. This applies to all professions. You need 10 to 15 years to establish yourself and earn the average income of the profession.
Of course, if you have good soft skills and networking and also better management skills, you will do much better.
Generation Y is a completely different breed from us who are baby boomers or the traditional type and let us not discourage them but inspire them. Continuing studies are being done to extract the best out of them.

I am more positive on the younger generation and really impressed with some of their business models which surprises dominant players in the respective industries. We can argue to say that the medical profession is an entirely different matter but let them slug it out for the betterment of the profession.
On another note, it was pointed out that there are many unemployed nurses now but Sunway medical centre commented sometime back that when interviews were held to boost recruitment, many were found to be unemployable. So, I still maintain that competent professionals do have a place.

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.

If I am not wrong, some require 2A**.
Is it documented that the selection is based on the above criteria and not forecast results? If your forecast is AAB, I don't think you stand a chance. Furthermore, why need a forecast if its merely to get an interview. As for Ukcat many unis only need just a slightly above average score.
Locally, I am sure academic counts first though you might argue $$$ comes first. A lot of ppl could be angry at you when they found out that not necessary that $$$ can get them a place at a preferred uni!

Jet-setting super rich parents? No wonder we are treated as their cash cows!
No public funding. So viability and sustainability could be a factor. If successful, more will join the bandwagon and a similar situation in bolehland will happen.
The public unis could just double up the number of places made available to the internationals.

Don't mind sharing which are the universities.

Those that give the conditional offers.

Leicester and Queens, I understand.

Medical degree: A dream or nightmare?
B Nantha Kumar
| September 12, 2013

Pursuing a medical degree is no longer glamorous. It burns pockets and bankrupts families.

PETALING JAYA: Her name is Subha (not her real name). She had an ambition to be a medical doctor since the age of 10.

Now as a 27-year-old, she is a second year houseman in a government hospital. It will then take another three years for her to complete her compulsory government service as medical officer before she qualifies for the full registration with the medical council.

Yes, Subha achieved her childhood dream. But is she really happy with her achievement today?

Speaking to FMT, Subha claims that she is indeed delighted to be a doctor but is still paying a high price for her happiness.

According to her, she graduated from a local private college and her degree cost her RM400,000.

“My CGPA point was 3.96, but all the local universities rejected my applications. Thus I was forced to pursue my medical studies in a private college,” she said.

Subha said she managed to obtain a RM150,000 loan from PTPTN while the balance amount was covered with her father’s savings and borrowings from other sources.

“I pay about RM2,000 a month to settle my education loans, including the PTPTN loan,” she said, adding that she still has to settle the outstanding amount for the next 20 years.

She further stressed that most of the Malaysian doctors are having a hard time paying their loans and debts.

Pains of a medical degree

Taking into account Subha’s predicament, this brings us to the question: is it really worth pursuing a medical degree in Malaysia with such high fees; which is indeed endorsed by the government?

A check by FMT revealed that there are more than 40 public and private universities, and colleges offering medical courses in Malaysia.

Though a medical degree may cost around RM150,000 in public universities, the fees in private institutions are anywhere between RM300,000 to even a million.

It is compulsory for all medical graduates to practice in a government hospital for five years to complete their housemanship.

During this period they are classified under two different grades, namely UD41 and UD44. For UD41, the salary ranges between RM2,600 to RM4,000.

As housemen they work for a minimum of 12 to 15 hours a day. After two years, they are upgraded to UD44.

They are also promoted as medical officers and salaries range between RM4,500 to RM5,000. After the final year they have an option to continue their career in the government service or private concerns.

However after 12 years and spending half a million, is it worth just to earn RM5,000 to RM6,000 as a doctor?

Working more than 12 hours a day (for some longer, as they supplement their income doing locum in clinics) just to settle their debts has raised concern over their profession.

Is low income or exorbitant fees the core issue here? The answer is obvious – fees imposed by private institutions are mind boggling.