It’s been 7 years now since I started to blog. Over the last 7 years, I had at countless number of times explained in detail about degree recognition, license to practise, job opportunities, quality, apparent “license to kill” and changing landscape of medical practise. Unfortunately, our society especially students and parents are still living in an ignorant world.
Today, there was an interesting letter to theStar(attached below). As usual, it has to come from a parent , similar to what I wrote in my blog post dated 10/06/2016. We have too many naive parents out there who refuse to listen to advise but will complain when it happens. The letter that was written clearly shows that he is not aware how the field of dentistry works, similar to medicine. You must understand that Dentistry had 3 years compulsory service since 2001 till 2012, after which it was reduced to 2 years. In June 2015, the compulsory service was reduced to 1 year which means that ONLY internship is done in government service for the purpose of full registration. I wrote about this in March 2016. The reason for this reduction is due to shortage of post in civil service.
The ignorance of the writer is clearly visible on this letter. Firstly, you don’t become a “dental surgeon” after graduating. The term itself is wrongly used. The one year compulsory service is ACTUALLY Internship. Without internship, you will not be able to be fully registered. Without full registration, you WILL NOT be able to practise as a dentist. I am not sure what “world-wide standards” is he talking about BUT there is NO such thing as practising without completing internship. Without internship, which is a supervised training period , you are NOT eligible to practise medicine/Dentistry. Graduating as a doctor/dentist DOES NOT give you a license to practise. License to practise is totally a different issue than having a degree. Unfortunately, at the moment, internship can only be done at government sector. Anyone caught practising dentistry or medicine with temporary registration or without any registration can be regarded as bogus doctors! Parents should also understand that spending huge amount of money does not guarantee you a job. I had always said that taking huge amount of loans to do medicine/dentistry does not make any economic sense. NO private or public colleges can guarantee you a job.
On another note, our Minister had said that medical graduates can do some other jobs while waiting for housemanship posting. The waiting period currently stands at 8 months. As I said in my blog post last month, i know a graduate who is working as a pharmaceutical rep while waiting for housemanship. The situation will only get worst from this year onwards. AND I still get emails from students who are intending to do medicine in an unrecognised university! Sometimes, I feel I should just give up trying to educate the public! MMC has introduced a new fee structure for MQE examination. I did write last year that MMC had increased the registration fee to RM 1000 with maximum of 4 attempts. This year they had introduced a common theory paper for a fee of RM 3000. Yes, this will be the way forward. MMC should conduct the MQE exams themselves rather than allocating to various universities where the exam standards vary. I hope eventually, the clinical component will also be standardised. Will this lead to a Common entry exam for all foreign graduates? I understand that MMC is gradually reducing the number of recognised universities overseas.
A blog reader sent me a message in my Facebook today asking me to update my blog more regularly. Yes, I have been busy for the last 3 months with all these tax issues against doctors and would continue to be busy for another 2 months till all the issues are settled. Till then, I may be slow in updating my blog post unless something “hot” appears. Anyway , all information needed by students are available in this blog OR they could just buy my book and read.
The world of medicine is changing. Doctors are getting sued almost daily basis. Complains to MMC is increasing by leaps and bounds. It is shocking to see the latest disciplinary actions taken by MMC which is available at their website. The numbers keep increasing. A lot of black sheep are appearing in our noble profession as I mentioned in my last blog post. A new medical indemnity scheme has been introduced this year. Interestingly, since the new scheme started, in just 7 months, they have 4 cases filed in court for medical negligence! That shows how the society is changing. I have almost daily complains in my hospital for various issues. At the end, everything boils down to money!
Think before you decide on the life that you want………………
Abolish compulsory government service
MY son graduated as a dental surgeon from a local private university on December 2015 after five years of intensive study and spending a few hundred thousand dollars. Sadly, he is still waiting to be called for an interview for the one-year compulsory government service and is not gainfully employed.
I understand from reading the newspapers that there are not enough vacancies for dental surgeons in government hospitals. In this situation, I certainly do not understand why the one-year compulsory government service is still not abolished. Can the Health Ministry or Malaysia Dental Council (MDC) offer some sensible and more logical explanation? I am sure others who are in the same boat as my son, and their parents too, will appreciate being enlightened on this.
This waiting period is a trying and demoralising time for my son who is eager to serve the people in this beautiful country.
And while he is waiting, he is wasting his life away and suffering financial loss too.
Why can’t the MDC issue a temporary annual practising certificate to newly-graduated dental surgeons to allow them to work in a private clinic until the Government is ready to take them? After all, they are fully qualified to practise in accordance with worldwide standards.
My son borrowed RM100,000 from PTPTN to finance his course. If he is gainfully employed now, he can start to repay the loan.
I look forward to an immediate solution from the intelligent and efficient officials at the Health Ministry and MDC.
FRUSTRATED PARENTS
Subang Jaya
Yeah Dr Pagal. I agreed fully of what u say that graduated from dentistry doesn’t mean you are a dental surgeon. Same as graduated from 5 years of medical school doesn’t mean you are licensed to practice medicine. I believe when you are graduated from university you should behave like an adult. Being sheltered by parents show how immature they are, what to say about practising? Probably parents should just let go and allow their grownup child to behave like an adult instead of continue protecting them. Perhaps they should ask themselves, ‘ will they believe to be treated by a doctor who always needs their parents’ protection if anything happened.’ Sadly the new generation are over pampered.
How are you sir? You blogs very informative and social awareness orientated. Unfortunately ignorance of society hard to be prevented. Im medical doctor been in service about 10 years. Personally I feel doctors should keep their options wide open if they think money is their priority. Myself engaged in few other business which not at all related to our profession. It doesnt matter for me as long im happy with my businesses. Once again wishing you God’s blessing for your Nobel efforts to educate our society. Thank you sir Regards
Sent from OPPO Ma
Yes, most doctors nowadays venture into other business. Medicine is never as enjoyabale as before.
With all the lawsuits, red tapes n competitive private sector, thank god i took pension scheme…
assuming government not bankrupt my then!! hahaha
Hopefully. Worst case scenario, county bankrupt, RM worthless, everyone suffers
so much of hue and cry over the waiting period. Is this too long
When you start doing dentistry or medicine ,one should from the onset look for alternatives rather depend on the government to provide the opportunities .
I am not sure people from all walks of life will sacrifce their children’s wishes just because this blog complains of lost oppartunities.
Wake up and look on all fronts,many anopportunities exist.
Just in case you are not aware,graduates from social sciences and finance too ,approx 400,000 graduates are jobless
I think you should spend more time reading all the informations in this blog before commenting. The issues in medicine are way more complicated that what you had written. The cost of doing medicine, the issue of recognition etc etc. I don’t want to repeat everything all over again. How much do a finance/social science graduate spend ? How much do a medical graduate spend? YES, it is too long of a waiting period. In medicine, once you do not practise, you forget! FYI, housemanship can only be done in government sector. So, what alternatives are you talking about? AND if your degree is not recognised elsewhere, you can’t even apply for a job in any other country.
Sacrifice children’s wishes? Have you spoken to any of this parents or children? Most do not even know what life they are getting themselves into. Most parents and their children do not know anything about life of a doctor, recognition and even job opportunities. Many are willing to spend huge amount of money thinking the job is guaranteed and their child will make big money to pay back all the loans. This blog is meant to educate these group of people. I never said don’t do medicine BUT never do medicine for wrong reasons.
Sad news… http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/08/01/lorry-driver-in-debt-fears-for-his-family/
I can understand that poor soul trying to earn some money from an early intake. My kid has also waited for more than 6 months. If one has borrowed from PTPTN, it will be no joy going forward as the monthly payback is about RM800 if the amount is RM150k. Taking into consideration the car loan, petrol, rental and food, one would be lucky to have much remaining at the end of the month. And if the parents are thinking of any assistance from their kids upon employment, this will be difficult unless they are staying at home. And the daily scolding from the specialists with words like stupid, idiots, no brain, brainless, cannot think ah is part and parcel of the process. Your only consolation is that the MOs will tell you its normal!
That’s the reason i keep saying ‘do not take huge loans’ to do medicine . Passion is one thing but life is another. Some even borrow up to 300K!
My daughter just completed her IGSCE with 9 A Stars. She loves sciences and maths. She will be going to KTJ for her A Levels . She is undecided about the field she wants to pursue , She was thinking of either mathemathics or medicine in UK. Her dream is to get into one of the top universities in UK . Medicine has always been her first choice but she is looking at some setback that is making her re-think. Firstly there are so many doctors in malaysia and doing serving her 2 years in civil service upon her return from UK is also not entirely encouraging plus she has to sit for SPM BM. If she chooses Medicine, we are prepared for her to do her housemanship there and do her specialist as well before returning and if she chooses to return. If she does Mathematics , we are not sure also of her career prospects. Can you give your thoughts and also other options of medical science fields that have good career prospects in UK and Malaysia? Thanks
Why u want to work in UK?firstly, does uk stil even allow foreigner to work there as doctors? 2 yrs civil service is very important, without that u wont even be able to be a doctor well. Mayb nowadays 2 years r not enuf too..lol
Yes, as at this point, International students graduating from a UK medical school will be able to do the 2 years FY, and if you get a job offer after, can be given a Tier 2 visa.
She should read my books before deciding. There are many other fields in mathematics that are needed in many countries. Actuary science is another hot demand profession.
Many, many moons ago there was no compulsory service for dentists, not even internship. You get your degree, registration and start working in your own or employed by some other clinic.
That era is gone. There is a reason why internship was introduced. It’s only a year now for dentist.