It’s been one and a half month since I last updated my blog. As I wrote in my last post, I was going for a long holiday after an hectic year dealing with IRB. Coming back from a long holiday is the worst nightmare. Clinic was packed to the brim, multiple medical reports to write and multiple reply letters to type. Then came Christmas, New Year and finally my hospitals MSQH audit which just ended today! Phew………
Unfortunately, doctors were in the limelight for the wrong reasons towards the end of last year and the beginning of this year. A daring expose by Al-Jazeera regarding baby selling syndicate in Malaysia on 24/11/2016 was a disaster for doctors. The faces of many doctors involved were clearly shown. Unfortunately this is nothing new. Many years ago, a similar syndicate was exposed and caught in Johor. The police acted swiftly and did manage to arrest few of the members of the syndicate that was exposed by Al Jazeera.
Just when we thought it was already damaging enough, came another exclusive expose from NST. Doctors venturing into unethical practices of cosmetic products. Frankly, this is nothing new as well. I have seen enough doctors practising what was exposed by the report. Injecting IV Vit C for whitening/anti ageing and many more so called aesthetic practices are common nowadays. In 2012, MOH (tr-vitamin-c-injection) had already issued statement that there is NO evidence that IV Vit C has any benefit. In fact, ViT C is NOT approved by MOH for intravenous injections for cosmetic reasons. Anyone found doing it can be charged for unethical practice. Ozone therapy is another major complimentary medicine practise that doctors are widely involved. Way back in 2011, MMC had already issued a statement that ozone therapy do not provide any health benefit and any doctors found guilty of providing ozone therapy by claiming that it can cure diseases, can be charged for unethical practices. Unfortunately it did not prevent many doctors from doing it. In fact I even know nurses who are openly promoting such centres on Facebook and showing many VIPs who are taking their ozone treatment. Again, on 3/01/2017, our DG issued another press statement regarding ozone therapy. The press statement came after NST reported that many celebrities who were openly promoting ozone therapy for advertisement purposes expressed their regrets. I have heard of reports of people dying during the procedure and even developing cardiac and renal failure. It is not a procedure without complications.
The question is, why are doctors venturing into such practices? The answer is simple : money and survival! Since I started blogging in 2010, I had written several times regarding these issues. In fact in 2012, I wrote on how desperate have doctors become. That is the reality out there. No matter what passion that you talk about before going into medicine, at the end of the day, it all boils down to money and survival. There is no such thing as easy money or easy life in medicine. Many doctors especially GPs are struggling to survive. Thus, to keep their income and their clinic running, they venture into these unethical businesses.
I get a lot of query regarding aesthetic medicine etc. My reply has always been to ask yourself why you became a doctor! Is it to treat and cure people with sickness or to become a glorified beautician! Yes, there is a lot of money in aesthetic medicine. There are huge financial backup from big suppliers all over the world. Cosmetic and aesthetic suppliers are one of the largest companies in the world. The companies need doctors as doctors are the only people licensed to inject substance into a person! At the end, no doctor will do it if not paid well!
The situation will only get worst. My last article talked about the introduction of contract HO post with no guarantee of a permanent post. I had mentioned that those who do not get a permanent post will end up flooding the GP market. Imagine what will happen then. Issues mentioned above will only get worst day by day, in the name of survival. WE have to blame ourselves for loosing the respect and trust once given by the public. Worst still, many of these young doctors would have huge amount of debts to pay! As I had always said, never take huge loans to do medicine!
Well, it did not end there. Just when 2016 was coming to an end, 2 cases of botched circumcision were reported. Interestingly, the first clinic was reported as not having a license to run! Interesting indeed if the report was true.
On the other end, MMC has now started their own qualification exam for those from unrecognised universities. It is now known as EPR (Exam for Provisional Registration). Is this a prelude for a common entry exam? Only time will tell………. As the years pass by, almost everything I predicted is becoming a reality. God save this country……
Pagalavan's Avatar 
Always so refreshing to read new posts by you even though it is the hard truth. Keep on writing and educating us whether students or members of the public. Wish you a happy 2017
Hi doctor, I am now considering between Perdana University and Monash University Malaysia. In your opinion, which one is better? Because
what makes me considering about Perdana University is the extra certificate : Bachelor of the Arts of Obstetrics (BAO). Is it really useful?
I am quite sure BOA just means Bachelor of Obstetrics, no “Arts”.
Noted, please excuse my ignorance. 😀
BOA does not give any extra advantage . It also does not mean that there is additional teaching in curriculum. It is the same as any other MBBS or MD. Monash is more established
Thank you very much!
Dr Paga, is there any other country besides Malaysia where postgraduate specialisation is accorded “Masters”? Please excuse my ignorance. Thank you.
There are like India, Singapore etc
and Egypt , and few other middle east countries
Well said doctor ! Unfortunately that is the harsh reality! Keep blogging 🙂 From a med student
Dr,
I once felt uneasy to read your posts as I felt they were full of negativity. And now that I am a final year medical student graduating in a few months, I actually enjoy reading your posts. Perhaps clinical years have shattered my naiveté and your posts enlightened me in many ways. Howsoever, despite the mental torment by lecturers and physical exhaustion I face every day, I grow fonder towards medicine. Probably because I have good teachers and a sense of responsibility. I now look forward to reading your posts. And I thank you so much for sharing your life experience.
Regards,
Teoh
The real medical life starts after you graduate! Good luck.
At the end of a hectic day, it would still be few of our patient’s trust and appreciation to make us not regret venturing into this field. Please dun kill the dim light my dear friends
Hi Dr.
I just completed my AUSTRALIAN MATRICULATION(AUSMAT) last yeare and got my result just around new year 2017. Doing mbbs was my plan and to expend my opportunity is exactly why I took AUSMAT. Well now I am constantly in a dilemma of choosing the right university. I all time dream was to settle down in Australia. However, now I m in one of the most confusing stage of life. Although I want to be a doctor choosing the right university is more confusing then I thought it could get. I am down to 2 university now after almost a months of thinking, considering, rethinking and reconsidering. So I have Aimst and MMMC. I am not that fond of MMMC but my parents are convinced that MMMC is the best of the 2 to aid me into Australia in the future. So I would like your opinion on this matter. Is it really true the MMMC is a BETTER choice then AIMST?
None of these 2 universities are recognised in Australia. So it does not matter which one you are choosing. If your intention is to migrate, then go to Monash Malaysia. Atleast you have a chance to apply for a job in Australia after graduation, even though it is getting slim year by year.
Both options will offer no chance to go work in Australia.
Monash Malaysia will enable potential registration in Oz, but getting an Intern job will be difficult going forward. This year, for the first time, there was not enough intern jobs for all interested international students, until the last moment. In previous years, some Monash Msia graduates were able to get Intern jobs, mostly in rural/regional areas and Tasmania, but none has got jobs this year.
In addition, the DIBP has placed doctors on the watch list for removal from the SOL. There is a possibility doctors may be removed from the list this July. The reason is, the domestic production of doctors in Australia has doubled over the last 10 years, and Curtin will start their first intake next month, so there isn’t a shortage of doctors any more. That will mean it will no longer be possible for IMGs, or international local graduates to stay on and work, or to apply for migration.
If migration is the intention, medicine is probably not the right profession.
Hi Dr Pagalavan, i currently a house officer in one of the general hospital, and will soon finish my housemanship end of this year, by the way i would like to further my career into radiology or nuclear medicine, what should i do next after i finish my housemanship? thanks Dr.
You can either do FRCR UK or Master in UM, UKM or USM locally. I have been away from Malaysia for some years now, so there may be newer Master programme locally. As far as I know from a friend who just came to Australia the exams is so oversubscribed that there is a waiting list to register for it now. There was no waiting list when I did it 15 years ago. Check with the RCR UK websites and talk to the radiology MO in most GH will give you a better idea (there should be some MO in bigger GH doing FRCR).
It is good to have experience in some clinical postings before you begin your radiology training. It helps a lot when interpreting the imaging findings if you have an understanding of the clinical problems.
As for nuclear medicine, you can either do MRCP or qualified as radiologists follow by some years of training. There is also some Master programme in UM and may be UKM or USM which give you direct training in NM. My personal opinion is better to do it via the radiology pathway as most work in NM is related to imaging and that is the major weakness of most NM physician with MRCP background. A lot of NM scans are combined with CT and more will be combined with MRI in the future. The only advantage of a MRCP trained NM physician is the understanding of treatment plan.
Hope this helps.
Hi Dr Pagalavan. This is Su-Lyn, journalist from Malay Mail Online. I would like to get more details on the contract HO positions. Can please email me at sulyn@themalaymailonline.com?
God save this country…….? I doubt it. Wrong assumptions do not lead to right results.
Hi doctor, thank you for all these enlightening posts you’ve made so far. I am a medical student who will be graduating soon and your blog has given me so much insight into what’s going to happen to our future in Malaysia. There are some questions I would like to ask. First is the starting salary of a houseman, may I know how much does a houseman earn per month as of now? It’ll be really helpful to know the amount of money I’ll get when I start working so that I can plan my living expenses. Secondly, I am really interested in pediatrics and surgery as well, I’ve seen your post on the pathway to become a surgeon in Malaysia, but how about being a pediatrician in Malaysia? What choices do I have to practise as a pediatrician in Malaysia? And if possible, do enlighten me on the pathway to be a pediatric surgeon in Malaysia please. Have a blessed day, doctor 🙂
Dr Paga, one potential skill you might have…future prediction. I am sure you are drafting your next new post, based on thestar news.. 🙂
Hahahah, atleast malaymail interviewed and quoted me :http://m.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/contract-doctors-judged-on-merit-not-government-scholarship-moh-says
hi Dr..why do ‘most’ graduates from Ukraine perform so badly and have very bad/disgusting attitude?
Cause they learn how to be crafty, sly and cunning in Ukraine. I wouldn’t trust most Eastern European graduates really.
Hi there, Dr Paga. I’ve been reading the articles in your blog and I think they’re eye-opening for those who are interested in venturing into the health sciences (especially medicine). Thank you for your effort in informing the public about the truth of the medical profession.
Anyway, have you heard about the botched circumcision of 3 boys which happened quite recently? It scares me as to how these clinics are allowed to operate for so long especially after reading these lines:
Sources revealed that the clinic had been operating since 2006 but was not registered with the ministry.
“The clinic’s administration had filed an application to be registered online, but it never followed up on its application or completed the process,” the sources said.
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/12/29/ministry-probes-botched-circumcision/
I’m sincerely worried about the healthcare future of our country.
yup, that is what I wrote above
The scariest part about the whole affair is that the clinics look convincing in the public’s eyes and it’s almost impossible to tell which clinics are licensed and which ones aren’t. Given the long waiting time in govt hospitals, these parties (who set up unlicensed clinics) take advantage of the situation without considering the dangers they pose to the public.
[…] to look for other jobs. GP market will be flooded in few years time and as I mentioned in my last article, unethical practices will become a norm in the name of […]
Hi doctor, how much do these contract doctors make? someone mentioned that they don’t get any allowances?
All allowances are the same
Hi Dr Pagalavan, thank you so much for sparing your time in this blog , which must have helped a lot of people. I am a Science graduate from Melbourne University and have been offered a place in graduate entry to do Medicine at the same university. The postgraduate degree conferred will be a Doctor of Medicine (Masters level degree) . However, I checked online and the information reflected in the Malaysia Medical Council’s website shows that it only recognises Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery. Would you know if the Malaysia Medical Council recognises the postgraduate qualification concerned or is it likely to recognise it in time to come? Appreciate your response in clearing my doubts before I made my final decision. Thanks again, doctor.
Firstly, graduate entry medical program is not the same as master’s level degree. When you graduate, you are considered equivalent to a undergraduate degree holder. Same housemanship, postgraduate training etc.
However, if it not listed in the 2nd schedule of Medical Act 1971, it is deemed not recognised by MMC.
Dr paga , which one is better ?Notthingham pharmacy course or Imu mbbs course ? I can’t seem to get an answer for myself for the past u months ! I need serious help from you. Can you please please tell me what are the future prospects for both these courses ?
do what you are interested in and not what prospects you have.
Hi doctor, i’ve just received my SPM result and i’m interested in doing medicine. I’ve read your blog and even finished both of your books. Thank you for taking the time to write them as I have learned a lot from reading them. Although I might not understand how tough it really is until I actually experience it, I know what’s in store for me and I’m sure that i’m not doing medicine for the wrong reasons. I would just like your advice on the best route. Is it possible for me to do A-Levels and continue my degree in UM/UKM? Or is it better to do the asasi programme provided? Are there better chances of me getting a place in housemanship if I study in UM/UKM compared to studying in private universities? Please update more on the current situation, whether it is worse or if there are positive changes 🙂
For local university, asasi is a better option. Public university usually don’t take that many A level students as preference is given to STPM and matriculation students. At the moment, there is no difference from which uni you graduate from, as far as jobs are concerned.