Job Prospects in Singapore
In an effort to focus and improve our services for the international medical students, the OMSS committee have written to several institutions and numerous contacts in order to investigate the job prospects for international students in several countries.
Below is a transcript of the letter received from the Singaporean Ministry of Health.
¡@
They welcome Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents (PRs) studying medicine overseas to apply for House Officer or intern positions with the Ministry of Health, Singapore. Anyone interested in applying for Housemanship in Singapore should complete two forms, "Singapore Civil Service Application for Graduate Appointments¡¦ and "Application for Medical Registration (for Foreign Medical Graduates)", and return them to the Ministry at least 6 months before they wish to commence work. For non-PRs, a decision on their appointment as House Officers will depend on the availability of positions in our institutions at the time.
At this point in time, there is no requirement in Singapore for applicants to sit for an examination in order to be registered as medical practitioners with the Singapore Medical Council (SMC). However, any doctor intending to work in Singapore must first fulfill the SMC¡¦s registration requirements ¡V he or she should be from an university recognised for registration by SMC and must have letter of good standing from the relevant professional registration bodies overseas.
As for job prospects after internship, Specialist Training in Singapore, on average, takes 6 years. Specialist Training is divided into basic and advanced phases. Basic Specialty Training (BST) usually takes 3 years and is offered to those in service with the Ministry of Health, Singapore. Entry into the programme is highly competitive and the selection process begins in November of each year. Eligible candidates must have at least one year of post-Housemanship experience with the Ministry of Health, Singapore by the date of commencement of traineeship. Doctors selected for traineeship in the various specialty disciplines are provided with the required clinical rotations to sit for the relevant postgraduate examinations. Those who pass the postgraduate examinations and complete basic specialty training are then eligible to proceed to Advanced Specialty Training (AST) which normally lasts another 3 years. Family Medicine is not viewed as a full specialty but offers a 3 years training programme that leads to the local Master in Medicine (Family Medicine) examination. Selected candidates can pursue a career in the government Family Health Service or private sector general practice.
Further information, application forms and the Ministry¡¦s contact details can be obtained from the OMSS office.
¡@
