Doctors Want A Job In Singapore-Here Are Their Top 12 Reasons
I have heard doctors from around the region as well as from other parts of the world say that they like or would like to work in Singapore. Below you will find their top 12 reasons for saying so.
1. Singapore Has A World-Class Infra-Structure
It has many centres of medical excellence including the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School. More growth is coming our way. The Khoo Teck Puat hospital is planned to be opened in 2010, the Jurong General Hospital in 2015.
2. Singapore Has Leading Medical Advances And Technology
With more and more academics and medical researches and the Duke-NUS Singapore Graduate Medical School we will create medical breakthroughs. Singapore has already succeeded in growing liver cells. It was the first in Asia to perform a combined kidney and bone-marrow transplant.
3. Singapore’s Medical Research Is Thriving
Biopolis Phase I was opened in September 2003 and Phase II was opened in October 2006. The Biopolis is a purpose-built biomedical research hub where researchers from the public and private sectors are co-located.
4. Singapore Is A Hotspot For Knowledge Exchange For Medical Professionals
Singapore is strategically located and well connected. Thus it is a popular place for international medical conferences and meetings.
Some conferences that Singapore hosted included the International Medical Eye Congress, the Asian Pacific Congress of Cardiology, the 3rd 2005 World Congress of Nephrology, the 18th Wonca World Conference - Genomics & Family Medicine, and the 13th International Conference on Biomedical Engineering 2008.
An example of an up-coming one would be the 2009 International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedical Technology (ICBBT 2009) to be held in Singapore on 17-20 April 2009.
5. There Is Increasing Opportunities In Research, Training And Service
There are more than 80 healthcare-related companies in Singapore.
Just to name a few, we have Glaxo-SmithKline, Baxter Healthcare, Philips Healthcare and Siemens Medical.
The growth of these Companies offers wide opportunities for medical professionals in the areas of research, teaching and patient service.
6. Singapore Is A Dynamic Medical Hub
It’s aim is to become Asia’s premier medical hub and to attract 1 million foreign patients annually by 2012.
7. Affordable Cost Of Living
Singapore has one of the lowest income taxes in the world. Coupled with the provision of quality housing & schools, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2005 have ranked people in Singapore as having the best quality of life in Asia.
8. Singapore Is A Vibrant Garden City
Singapore has even been called a city in a garden. It is also among the cleanest in the world.
Daily living is easy with modern housing, transport, education and recreation.
In 2003, PERC rated Singapore as having the “Best quality physical infrastructure in Asia”. In 2005, the Economist also named Singapore as “the best place to live in Asia” because it has so many options for entertainment and dining.
9. Singapore Is A Multi-Cultural Society
Thus living in Singapore is a unique experience of diverse religions, cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Singapore’s multi-cultural society of more than 4 million is reflected in its major ethnic groups: Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians.
With such diversity, Singapore has always opened its arms to international talent from all over the world.
10. Singapore Provides A Safe Home For All
Singapore is well known as one of the most stable societies in Asia. It does all it can to uphold racial and religious harmony.
11. Doctors From Asian Countries Like Singapore’s Proximity To Their Homes
Singapore is well liked by other Asians because it is near their home countries. Besides, Singapore is also located near good tourist spots and would offer good quality lifestyle in the long term.
12. Singapore Has Strict Laws On Drinking And Smoking
Some of you who don’t drink or smoke would find the strict laws in Singapore good for you.
This is especially so for those who hate the smell of cigarette smoke.
Do you want to work as a doctor in Singapore? Click here.
More Information About Doctor’s Job In Singapore
A Golden Chance
For many foreigners, moving to Singapore will be an opportunity to gain professional experience overseas. A foreign doctor’s spouse and children can come to Singapore as dependents. A foreign doctor is also eligible to apply for permanent residency.
I know of an example of a foreigner from an Asian Country who came to Singapore about five years ago, who found a job as a medical officer at one of our restructured Hospitals.
List of Public/Restructured General Hospitals in Singapore
- Alexandra Hospital
- Changi General Hospital
- Jurong General Hospital (expected to open in 2015)
- National University Hospital
- Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (expected to open in 2010)
- Singapore General Hospital
- Tan Tock Seng Hospital
A photo of Tan Tock Seng Hospital, one of the restructured hospitals.
This foreign doctor that I was talking about is progressing well in his career and is now working at a higher level, namely, as a Registrar.
Before coming to Singapore he did his MBBS and earned his MD degree in his home Country. He then worked for about four years at a Hospital in his native Country.
Many doctors from Asian countries prefer employment in Singapore compared to the US, UK or other Western Countries because they feel more comfortable with our culture.
Some foreigners like Singapore because it is safe to work at night. Some think that the education system is very good.
Some people in Singapore say that their Australian friends like Singapore because they can hire a maid to do their household chores, whereas in Australia they don’t have a maid.
However they don’t like the education system in Singapore. That is not an issue to them because there is an Australian International School in Singapore.
A Warm Reception
If you are thinking of coming to Singapore I would like to assure you that you will find the process of coming to Singapore a relatively smooth and well-organized one.
In general Singaporeans are a friendly people. We would be ever eager to receive you when you arrive at our renowned Changi International Airport.
When you arrive in Singapore you will get a sense of belonging. That will give you a good start.
We would even help you find a house.
Besides that we will also settle the formalities at the Ministry of Manpower to get an employment pass for you.
We are a hospitable people, and we would even take you on a tour of Singapore to orientate you.
You will also not have much problems adapting to the differences in the work culture between your Country and Singapore.
One of the adjustments you may have to make is that there is more paperwork and accountability in Singapore compared to most Countries in Asia.
However most of the foreign doctors have been able to settle into their jobs within two to three months.
Learn from the experienced doctors in Singapore
One suggestion for foreign doctors who want to come to Singapore to work is to visit Singapore to get a feel for what it is like to live and work here.
Arrangements can be made for foreign-trained doctors who want to work in Singapore to meet with local doctors to get an inside look at the Singapore working environment.
You can thus find out about the professional development, work-life balance, and so on to see if it is what you want.
Then if the recruitment by the hospital is successful and you accept a job offer you would have made a sound decision.
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Registration For Foreign-Trained Doctors To Practise In Singapore
If you are a foreign-trained doctor, the first thing you have to do to find out if you can work as a medical doctor in Singapore is to check if you come from a recognized medical school.
You can check this in the Singapore Medical Council’s Registrable Basic Medical Qualifications which was last updated on April 18, 2008.
The Singapore Medical Council also grants Temporary Registration. Check
http://www.smc.gov.sg/html/1153709456494.html to find out which groups of doctors can be granted Temporary Registration and also what are the requirements.
However do not assume you can land a doctor’s job in Singapore even if you satisfy all the requirements.
You will need a contact in the hospital. We have the contact with someone in the Hospital whom we communicate with.
This contact is someone senior enough to make a hiring decision.
Another point to note is that Consultant positions are considered permanent decisions so you may have to settle for Associate Consultant even if you are already a Consultant level person back home.