Is pursuing an MD degree still practical?

[Altwegg]

"Anong gusto mong maging paglaki mo?"
"Gusto kong maging doktor para matulungan ang may mga sakit."

Is pursuing an MD degree still practical?

In recent years, there is a continuing decline in enrollment for medical education. The 47% drop in medical education admission in 2002-2003 was very significant such that three medical schools have closed down, according to the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges or APMC. So what could be the reasons behind this trend?

Perhaps the most obvious reason is the great demand for nurses abroad. Nurses working overseas, as I was told, earn lots of money. Nursing became popular so much so that 100 new nursing schools have been established in 2004 alone. Even doctors who have established themselves here have studied nursing and have fled the country to seek greener pastures. Another reason could be the cost of medical education. Private insititutions' tuition fees range from P30,000 to almost P80,000 per semester, excluding the expenses for books and uniforms. By the time one graduates from medical school, he must have spent around half-a-million pesos. Another possible reason is that you really don't get rich when you're a doctor and if you do, you must be 60+ years old by then.

Now, is pursuing an MD degree still practical?

[trauma]

It's not practical but if you are: 1) altruistic 2)your parents can afford it 3) you don't have any financial responsibility for a LOONG time 4) willing to study hard,
then there is no reason to discourage others from being an MD.

If you want to go overseas ASAP and earn money, Nursing is the right course.

[spiderdude]

Yes it is impratical but there are ppl who can still afford...those who enter medicine are those who like the vocation/career or just altruistic or forced by their parents....to many of the pinoy families being a doctor gives great honor to them.

Last year only UST and UP reached the quota for admissions based from the Paascu's data. Many schools were able to get only a 50% or more of admissions.

Some data to consider:

A resident earns 8k-15k a month after 9 years of studying. Mas malaki pa sweldo ng accountant, cashier or HRD sa iyo sa hospital.

A doctor in a public hospital earns 15k-25k. A medical director of a hospital earns around 20-30k. A call center operator earns 20k even though he/she dont finish Highschool.

Every 4 years you have to buy new edition of books costing 1k-5k each. An opthalmoscope cost around 20,000. Many medical equipment are expensive too

A consultant in a private hospital earnings can vary but its like business if you are not the best or you dont have connections then you dont have patients=no money. Considering there are many doctors in a private hospital in Metro Manila, the competition is really hard. Patients only go to the best doctors...most them are senior na..you wont have a chance if you are only a greenhorn.

Imagine if the medical rights bill was approved...one mistake would cost you millions plus imprisonment...only in a medical profession you will see that, you wont see a lawyer or a journalist being punished like that in a way. You will find patients trying to find ways to sue you so they can earn money...imagine the money you have to spend to defend yourself and the lawyers will be just earning money. Wawa tlg doctors...many criminals were not punished because there was no motive...ang doctor wala naman motive pero punished agad.

[regptrp_md2b]

honestly, it's not knowing that prices of textbooks (not to forget the frequent changes in editions), tuition fees (& everything else that goes with studying & practicing Medicine) are so high.

however, if a doctor enjoys what he or she is doing & gets to be fulfilled by helping patients, then the financial aspects doesn't matter that much. so what if he/she only earns less than what a call center agent does?

nothing compares with having a good (& quality) education.

[you101]

regrading costs, marami nmn scholarships n offreed here n there.

s long run, la k ng makikitang doctor ** s pinas. kaya kung doctor k by that tym. marmi k cgurong clients. marami ring ibang factors like the state of the philippines by that tym.

[spiderdude]

honestly, it's not knowing that prices of textbooks (not to forget the frequent changes in editions), tuition fees (& everything else that goes with studying & practicing Medicine) are so high.

however, if a doctor enjoys what he or she is doing & gets to be fulfilled by helping patients, then the financial aspects doesn't matter that much. so what if he/she only earns less than what a call center agent does?

nothing compares with having a good (& quality) education.

Well its good may doctors na altruistic but the sad thing there is kaunti na lang sila....just what I said those who like the career or helping na lang natira or those who are forced by the parents(still a reality)...minsan kasalan rin ng mga doctor, one example: kung bakit mahal ang gamot because of brand patronage and company endorsements/freebees/traveling abroad...according to some data the philippines has the most expensive medicines in our region.

thats why many are trying to look at community medicine or prevention/primary health care....finding ways for people not to get sick. One example is the Gawad Kalusugan, a project created by Dr. Tagulinao, Dr. Yamamoto etc...from my experience with projects like Gawad Kalusugan is that there is a way to lessen the damage for the lost of doctors and it can really improve health within a community but these kind of undertaking needs a lot of effort and dedication. The government is also a big factor for the health care of communities. Still there is no substitute for doctors...it is a sad reality but many here in the Philippines havent seen a physician in their lifetime.

Scholarships? mayroon naman pero di marami...sana marami pa magsponsor. May nagsponsor nga pero iba sa kanila nagnurse rin example....topnotcher ng medicine a few years ago.

[trauma]

If financing your medical education is a problem and you cannot find a scholarship or grants, try publicly-funded med schools (UP,PLM,WVSU,MSU). Usually, like PLM you have to sign a contract that you have to work locally for a number of years. OK sana if they can fund all the post-graduate positions.

As for preventive health care, it is a good idea but it also needs funding(nothing is really free). You can't win in a country that spends 1% of its GDP on healthcare.

[GR8_GUY]

"Anong gusto mong maging paglaki mo?"
"Gusto kong maging doktor para matulungan ang may mga sakit."

Is pursuing an MD degree still practical?

If one loves Medicine and he feels that it is the profession that gives him the ultimate satisfaction of being able to help and make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate then it's worth pursuing it. It becomes impractical if he can barely afford the expenses of medical school and his ultimate goal is getting rich. In that case, he will be doing himself and the medical profession a favor if he takes on a different profession. There are still many physicians who are making real good money in the Philippines and most of them have gone through many years of specialization and sub-specialization. I've heard that the country-club-like practice of getting hospital privileges and hospital-based office practice is very discouraging for young doctors who just stepped out of their residency training when they have to fork out money in the tune of PhP 500,000!

[GR8_GUY]

In recent years, there is a continuing decline in enrollment for medical education. The 47% drop in medical education admission in 2002-2003 was very significant such that three medical schools have closed down, according to the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges or APMC. So what could be the reasons behind this trend?

There are 36 medical schools in the nation and of these 36 only 19 have their own teaching hosptital as required by law. For a country the size of the Philippines with 85 million population, it needs no more than ten medical schools to adequately serve the nation and its people. Ideally, we need to close the substandard medical schools and enforce stricter criteria for admission to medical schools.
It will be interesting to know: 1) if the drop in enrollment and closure involve more of the 17 substandard medical schools, and 2) which medical schools these doctors-turned-nurses come from?

[baby_michelle21]

Consider this,

If you want to earn big bucks but have to go to bs like racial discrimination, home sickness, apt rent, your own laundry, cooking your own food, your safety and no one is really there when you need some help, then pursue nursing.

But if you want adulation, having high status, your opinions are valued, respect, having your parents near you, your friends are there, you dont have to worry about your clothes, all the good things etc etc etc then be a doctor.

being a nurse abroad is not what it seems to be. being a ofw doesnt mean you have lots of money. and Yes it is true that you have to be kayod kalabaw pag wala ka dito sa pinas.

[gold_inhinhiero]

Akala ko dati, once na naging Medical Doctor ka, everyday you can earn a minimum of ten thousand in your own clinic palang, well mali pala ako.. :)

[trauma]

I actually agree that there are too many medical schools in the Philippines. They should have their own teaching hospitals and close the substandard schools.
Also being a doctor does not automatically means staying in the Philippines. Most of the doctors I know are practicing overseas as doctors, but that path is getting harder.
As for income in the Philippines, the only doctors earning well are old established doctors or surgical specialists. Majority are earning below 40K a month.

[Altwegg]

Residents of government institutions earn a measly 15-18,000 a month.

[sue_mo!]

why be an MD when you can be an RN?

who knows, you might be doubly lucky and get to marry a loser fratboy from up!

[baby_phat18]

hmmp! basta ako, kahit anong mangyari mag-mmedicine ako...

how i wish! sana makapasa sa UP-CM!

or UST!

[gold_inhinhiero]

Residents of government institutions earn a measly 15-18,000 a month.

So, mas malaki pa pala ang kinikita ng isang professor na may master's degree na mga 10 years ng nagtuturo.

[GR8_GUY]

Residents of government institutions earn a measly 15-18,000 a month.
After their residency training they will start reaping the rewards!
:)

[Altwegg]

But it will take a very long time for them to establish their names and reap the rewards.

[neoreo09]

well all i can say is be "patient" and pursue your course. it'll all pay off in the end no matter how long your wait and sacrifices are. try studying outside philippines... it would cost you though... a lot.

good luck in your course.