A Doc's Life 1 : Don't Do it for the Money!

I've been holding off starting this series on being a doctor in Malaysia as I was gathering my thoughts. There are just so many things I wanted to share, but it was in a jumble, but I hope that you will find it useful. First of all, if you think you are going to get rich being a doctor, I'm sorry, but you will never get your money back for another 10-15 years or more. Being a doctor here in Malaysia is different because if you want to work here, you have to serve the Government for 2 years as a House Officer (The lowest life form in the medical heirachy!) then 2-3 years as a Medical Officer. Following this, you will be able to register and practice medicine in Malaysia as a GP.

A typical medical course over 5-6 years will set you(actually your parents) back about 300-500,000 ringgit depending on where you go. On graduation as a HO, you will get RM$2000 a month (with calls, about $2500) for the next 2 years. When I started, they paid me RM$1800 a month with RM$20 for each overnight call. Thankfully the call allowance has been increased to RM$100 a call. As a Medical Officer, your pay will be about RM$2500 (With Calls about RM$3500) a month. As a specialist in the Government, you will get about RM$4000 a month ($5000 with calls) and as you reach the top of the medical heirachy, a consultant or head of department, you will get about RM$8000 a month, a Perdana plus the perks that come from being a HOD.(Just for your info, 1USD = RM3.80).

One thing that you will have, is job security as doctors are always in short supply. However you can imagine why doctors leave the government service as the pay is so low. Compare this to any of your uni/college mates that have been working as an accountant or engineer in private practice working office hours after 5 years and ask yourself if it is worth the money. Even if you took the RM$300,000-500,ooo and invested it wisely, you might be a millionaire by now.

So please, please don't do it for the money, you'd be crazy!

(Update fr Ng Cheng Huat..Thanks!)

New Salary Scheme for Degree Holders

Grade U41 RM 1,738.43 (Minimum) - RM 4,624.28 (Maximum)

Grade U44 RM 2,633.83 - RM 4,823.93

Grade U48 RM 3,853.51 - RM 5,599.54

Grade U52 RM 4,341.14 - RM 6,116.21

Grade U54 RM 4,572.25 - RM 6,492.52

Jusa C RM 6,135.80 - RM 7,672.50

Jusa B RM 6,571.40 - RM 8,229.10

Jusa A RM 7,224.80 - RM 9,039.80

C41 1,492.80 4,596.45