Interesting how a topic about service quality vs cost veered off on a tangent.
So with the raging debate about doctors in general "earning too much", what say you about the salary discrepancy within the medical community, i.e. between the public and private sectors?
Should those in private practice be viewed any less favourably than their counterparts in public institutions?
Is it considered wrong for doctors to treat affluent patients exclusively when so many others belong to the lower income brackets?
I always wonder about those medical school interviews, when candidates are asked, "Why do you want to become a doctor?"
You can expect the usual spiel about "wanting to help my fellow human beings, comfort the sick, ease suffering, etc."
While it's true that you can do all this in a private setting, your clientele would differ quite significantly from those visiting restructured hospitals.
Your comments, please.
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8 comments:
One of my classmates told the interviewers that he wanted to be a doctor so that he could earn lots of money.
He got into medicine.
He is now an orthopedic surgeon.
Whether he is earning "lots of money" well it depends what is a lot these days.
"Is it considered wrong for doctors to treat affluent patients exclusively when so many others belong to the lower income brackets?"
I don't think it is wrong. Why should someone with something of value to offer be forced to trade it for less value than he can on the open market? What right does the medical profession, government or patients have to do that?
"Should those in private practice be viewed any less favourably than their counterparts in public institutions?"
No, even if they did it just so they will make more money.
No, especially if they did so because they had something of value to offer, but could not do it his own way in the institution, and thus exited the system, knowing fully well that his abilities will be appreciated in the open market.
I see the value of the private sector not solely in terms of the money one can make, but also the freedom it affords one to practise according to one's own vision. Of course whether that's a good or bad thing depends on his vision...
Whatever happen to the SMC Physician pledge?
Doctors are supposed to treat all patients equally and not do a wallet biopsy and treat only the rich. Why let social standing affects their treatment.
If I am rich, I get Curam
If I am poor, I get Penicilin
So I am discriminated because I am poor.
I am rich, I stay in Singapore nursing home.
I am poor, you throw me to die in Johor Bahru nursing home?
The SMC Physician's Pledge reads:
"I solemnly pledge to:
dedicate my life to the service of humanity;
give due respect and gratitude to my teachers;
practise my profession with conscience and dignity;
make the health of my patient my first consideration;
respect the secrets which are confided in me;
uphold the honour and noble traditions of the medical profession; respect my colleagues as my professional brothers and sisters; not allow the considerations of race, religion, nationality or social standing to intervene between my duty and my patient; maintain due respect for human life; use my medical knowledge in accordance with the laws of humanity; comply with the provisions of the Ethical Code; and
constantly strive to add to my knowledge and skill.
I make these promises solemnly, freely and upon my honour."
Why let social standing affect their treatment?
Because sometimes cold, hard reality dictates that certain treatment are not affordable by the poor.
And the Curam vs Penicillin analogy is really poor.
It's more like:
If I am rich, I get Augmentin.
If I am poor, I get Curam / Amocla.
It's just simple economics.
Not everyone can afford the best things in life.
I'm sure many of us would love to stay in a big bungalow with a pool. How many of us can afford it?
BTW, nowadays, many doctors stay in HDB as well......unlike 30 years ago.
Both dwellings provide a roof over the entire family. And staying in a HDB flat is certainly 'acceptable' since majority of Singaporean stay in one. (perhaps >80%?)
Comparatively, doctors these days are 'less' well to do than their peers 30 or 40 years ago.
I can never understand why people think doctors are overpaid or overcharging.
GP consultation - $30 = expensive
haircut in town - $30 = very cheap
T&S - $150 = why so much more expensive than A&E
manicure + pedicure - $60 = good value
A 3rd year MO earning 4k = overpaid
1st year lawyer earning 4.2k starting pay = ??
lets compare this 2 guys
5yr med school + 1yr HO + 3yr MO = 9years of training
school fees 90-100k, EXCLUDING the bullshit bond
3yr law sch + 1yr pupilage = 4yrs of training
school fees <6k
at the rate doctors are paid, how do we keep on attracting the bright teenagers into this field?
20yrs ago doctors might earn less, but at least they enjoy the respect of their patients, they are treated like professionals, and they have good social standings.
Now our income is just as bad, but patients treat us like dirt, our professional body calls ourselves to be "in the service industry"
Patients can shout and be rude to us but we have to "empathize" with them
come on, I'm a doctor, not your maid (please don't treat your maid like dirt too!)
http://www.salary.sg/2009/100-best-jobs-in-singapore-2009/
There we go again
Surgeons earn $27K
Lawyers earn $11k
So obviously surgeons being a doctors is overpaid compared to a lawyer.
Specialised surgeon - $27,977
Managing director - $26,444
Personal banker - $20,238
Commodities futures broker - $19,098
General manager - $18,068
Foreign exchange dealer and broker - $17,383
Company director - $16,025
Finance sales associate professional - $15,833
Fund manager - $12,634
Risk management manager - $12,200
Treasury manager - $12,000
Financial futures dealer and broker - $11,667
Legal service manager - $11,531
Advocate and solicitor - $11,147
Note that the list you listed EXCLUDES performance bonuses, profit sharing and stock options. In the financial field, this can be as easily equivalent to the entire year's salary, doubling their income listed here. The medical field's performance bonuses are often meagre in comparison.
Going down that same list:
Sales manager - $8,050
Chinese physician - $7,043
Medical scientist - $6,875
Librarian - $6,842
General physician - $6,085
There are far more general physicians than specialised surgeons. The demand is for general practitioners for the aging population.
I therefore conclude, since we're using this list, that doctors are grossly underpaid especially given the high cost in time/money of entering the profession. GPs should start opening TCM clinics on the side, hahaha.
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