PETALING JAYA: Better work environment and higher pay are among the main reasons some local medical graduates from Malaysia’s leading universities do their housemanship in Singapore.
It is learnt that up to 30% of medical graduates from Universiti Malaya (UM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) have moved to Singapore for housemanship in recent years.
In 2024, more than 60 out of 160 UM graduates chose to work there.
Similarly, in 2023, 30 out of 150 UKM graduates made the same move.
One of them was a 26-year-old who only wished to be known as Jane.
She went to Singapore for better pay due to the stronger currency.
On top of that, Jane said there is better work-life balance in the Singaporean healthcare system.
“At least, there is work-life balance and the working hours and workload are also much better.
“For now, I don’t plan on coming back to Malaysia,” she said.
Another medical graduate who wished to be known only as Lee, agreed with the sentiment.
Although she initially wanted to pursue her career in Malaysia, Lee’s plans changed after considering the better work opportunities across the Causeway.
However, Lee plans to return and serve in her home country eventually.
“I have a sense of belonging here and want to spend more time with my family.
“I hope the government will have clearer and more transparent steps and information for Malaysian doctors who have worked overseas to come back,” she said.
In Singapore, the salary for a houseman starts at about S$5,000 (around RM16,000).
Meanwhile, at home, the salary for the same position starts at about RM5,000 with allowances.
Another medical student, Yasmine (not her real name), who is in her fourth year at one of the local universities, said while the pay is more appealing in Singapore, her concern is that she could not return to practise in Malaysia for at least 10 years.
She hopes to become a surgeon but the chances of getting into the Master’s training programme in Singapore are even lower as a Malaysian medical graduate.
“The biggest drawback is that once we choose to go to Singapore, we cannot serve the Malaysian Health Ministry or work in Malaysia until we’ve become a specialist.
“We need to spend a minimum of eight to 10 years to specialise before getting a chance to be able to return to Malaysia as a doctor.
“With that in mind, it’s not the best option for me,” she said.
Last month, Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan said that to improve housemen training in Malaysia, the ministry is looking at shortening the training period from two years to one year.
He said the proposal aligns with the Medical Act 1971, which mandates a minimum training period of a year, adding that the training period was extended to two years in 2008.
He added that the extension was implemented due to the rise in the number of medical graduates, but the number of senior medical officers was insufficient to supervise and support the training.
