Wavelength International provides Recruitment, Immigration and Locum Services for Medical Professionals as well as Healthcare Employers throughout Australia, New Zealand, Singapore & beyond. The information below provides you with comprehensive information to assist you in making the important career and lifestyle decision to relocate to Singapore.
To browse medical jobs in Singapore Click Here For more information please contact Tara Wylie directly on singapore@wave.com.au
About Singapore Singapore is a city like no other. Rich in contrast and colour it has a strong cultural heritage and provides a rich array of art, cuisine and architecture. Known as the “Lion City” from the Malay Singapura, it is a fascinating blend of East and West, embracing the finest elements of both. With a rich blend of past and present, Singapore is a rich ethnic enclave and one of the world’s most efficient business centres, contrasting the most beautiful gardens with the sleekest of skyscrapers. Singapore’s airport, public housing, transportation, education system and medical facilities are ranked among the best in the world. The climate is tropical, and it is usually sunny all year although the monsoon seasons from December to March and June to September could bring heavy rain. Singapore is a clean, safe place to visit and live, its amenities are second to none and its public places are smoke-free and hygienic (even chewing gum is outlawed!). According to government statistics, the population of Singapore as of 2011 was 5.18 million. Various Chinese linguistic groups formed 75% of Singapore's residents, with the balance predominately Malays (13%) and Indians (9%), while Eurasians, Arabs and other groups form the minority. English is the key language of communication, and most Singaporeans speak and write a second language, usually Mandarin, Tamil or Malay. Singapore is a multi-religious country with around half of resident Singaporeans practicing Buddhism and Taoism. About 15%, mostly Chinese, Eurasians, and Indians, practice Christianity. Muslims constitute 15%, of whom Malays account for the majority with a substantial number of Indian Muslims and Chinese Muslims. Smaller minorities practice Sikhism and Hinduism.
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Singapore’s Healthcare System Singapore’s Healthcare system is consistently ranked by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as among the best in the world. In the last World Health Report on health systems, Singapore was ranked 6th out of 191 countries and top in Asia for its health system. Singapore is fast becoming a destination of choice for international patients or “Health Tourists” and is targeting to attract 1 million foreign patients every year by 2012. Foreign patients come to Singapore for a broad range of specialist care including Cardiology, Gynaecology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Oncology, Urology, Neurosurgery, besides General Surgery and General Medicine. Given its central location and connectivity, Singapore is commonly used for international medical conferences & scientific meetings. Singapore has recently hosted the International Medical Eye Congress, the Asian Pacific Congress of Cardiology and the 3rd World Congress of Nephrology. Back to Top Healthcare Delivery Singapore has a dual system of healthcare delivery incorporating both the public and private sector. The public providers are divided into 2 primary managing groups; National Healthcare Group (NHG) and Singapore Health Services (SingHealth).
Patient care is provided through acute care hospitals, primary healthcare polyclinics and national speciality centres. About NHG Incorporated in 2000, the National Healthcare Group (NHG) manages 4 Hospitals, 1 National Centre, 9 Polyclinics and 3 Specialty Institutes. NHG offers the entire range of medical specialties. NHG has over 11,000 employees with annual revenue in excess of $1 billion, accounting for half of the public sector healthcare volume. The NHG institutions see about 3 million outpatient attendees every year while over 120,000 patients are admitted to or operated on in their facilities every year. About SingHealth Singapore Health Services (SingHealth) is the largest healthcare group in Singapore offering a complete range of multi-disciplinary and integrated medical care. The group consists of 3 Hospitals, 5 National Specialty Centres and a network of 9 Polyclinics. With over 2000 internationally qualified doctors, supported by a 12,000 team of qualified nurses and allied health talent, SingHealth has developed an excellent reputation locally, and across the region, for clinical excellence. The SingHealth group sees 3 million patient visits per year and performs 175,000 surgeries.
Back to Top Working in Singapore There are 4 types of medical registration (excluding specialist registration) for doctors who wish to practise medicine in Singapore. Full registration - Allows a doctor to practise on his own anywhere in Singapore.
Temporary registration – Allows for visiting experts, training attachments, research or postgraduate training
Conditional registration - Allows a foreign-trained doctor to work only in a designated healthcare establishment, under the supervision of a fully registered medical practitioner
Provisional registration - Allows a medical graduate who wishes to obtain a certificate of experience to be employed as a house officer in one or more approved hospitals in Singapore for a period of 12 months
Most IMGs work under Conditional Registration although after a period are eligible to apply for Full registration.
To be eligible for conditional registration, the applicant must generally meet the following criteria: • hold a basic medical degree from a university/ medical school listed in the Schedule of the Medical Registration Act; or • have a postgraduate or exit specialist qualification recognised by the Specialists Accreditation Board; and • has been selected for employment in a Singapore hospital/ institution/ medical practice approved by the Medical Council; and
In general, Singapore recognises specialists' qualifications and training from UK & Ireland, Australia & NZ, US & Canada. This means that the SAB would accredit such applicants if they have the relevant training, qualifications and work experience. Candidates from Europe, Asia (outside of Singapore), the Americas and South Africa can secure opportunities in Singapore but are subject to more detailed review of their postgraduate training. SMC will generally require at least 4 weeks to process an application for Medical Registration (upon receiving the completed application form and the complete set of supporting documents).
Salary, Income Tax and Benefits Although the actual salaries paid, if converted to another currency, appear low, the "take home" pay is a considerably different story (especially at the higher end of earnings) because Singapore has one of the lowest taxation systems in the world. The maximum income tax bracket is 20% and on the first SING$300,000 you would only pay approximately $40,000 in tax (or 12.5%). Hospitals rarely provide indicative salary levels or scales and salaries are very much based on the Doctors experience and career history. Typically Hospitals in Singapore offer between a 1-3 year renewable employment contract. You will generally find Hospitals will also pay annual bonuses, both guaranteed and variable, and offer housing allowances, some relocation costs (flights). Other employment benefits will usually include: Childcare facilities, Competitive leave benefits, Family friendly practices, Flexi-work arrangements, Medical dental and group term life insurance benefits and Subsidised health screening programmes. To browse medical jobs in Singapore Click Here Back to Top