Stand Up !

Malaysian government doctors are late bloomers. Yes, it took me 5 years of working in this line to actually realize it and to eventually succumb to the cruel reality. It actual fact, no matter how many of u may deny it, life is none other than a "rat race". (I'm sure some can picture Mr Bean in the movie similarly entitled Rat Race). Once children become school goers, their life has entered the never ending race for high achievement. Heck, some as young as 4 years old are sent to pre schools where they start teaching these toddlers hi fi subjects and send them home with homework. Once in school, its the race for excellent grades, to ensure the excellent university (most likely overseas for Malaysians) and subsequently to pursue the excellent career. Now in Malaysia, if ur a straight A student, then ur destined to be doctor. Nothing else. Read the news papers - " Straight A student for SPM did not receive scholarship to pursue medicine", "Straight A student dies in freak car accident - aspired to be a doctor", "Daughter of padi field worker got straight As, acquired a spot for medicine"...and the list goes on. Its blasphemy for those with all As not to do medicine. Anyways, as to late bloomers, those doing medicine will undergo a grueling 5 years medical course. Not to mention some universities having pre medical subjects (core sciences) for 1 or 2 years, thus making studying medicine a total of 6-7 years. By that time, those doing other fields may have a head start in working and in their careers 3-4 years before a med student graduates. "So what?" some may say. "Once doctors start work, their salary are high". Maybe, but no longer in keeping with current economic turmoil and inflation. And in the government service (Ministry of Health), a doctors salary climbs at a snails pace. I've worked for 5 years and my current salary is RM3300 a month. Plus another RM 900 for sleepless on calls (paediatrics). Which makes a total of RM 4200 a month. It may look big, but its just keeping my head above the water for now. Now many of my colleagues have reached a basic salary of RM 10,000 a month. Of course after working for 8 years, me only 5. Some even RM 15,000. Of course, they have been dwelling in the private sector. To them, the sum above is AVERAGE. So with that, they are able to buy a teres house costing RM 380,000 or above (in the Petaling Jaya area), and a non Proton car. With all that baggage, they still have extra to spare for insurance and other luxuries such as vacations. Ok, as for me, I just bought a house (apartment) costing RM 250,000 - monthly loan of RM2000, and a Proton Persona - monthly loan RM 607. Then my maid for RM500 a month. Then my kids insurance for RM 500 a month. All in all, my expenditures are RM 3607, which leaves a balance of RM 593. My wife earns RM 2700. She's a doctor too but of 4 years. She has her own car loan and parents to support. Now, my private colleagues have moved in to their respective houses, renovated and furnished them beautifully. I just bought mine and will only move in mid of 2009. Still staying with my parents. In short, I felt left behind in the "rat race". All said and done, my friends have progressed ahead in life whilst I'm just beginning to explore into it. Furthermore, now in a Master's programme, I'm now a doctor cum student. Which makes the feeling even worse. To my surprise, I'm not the only one suffering this slow paced feeling. My wife's specialist in Urology, (whos a qualified surgeon, now in his 4th year of Urolgy sub specialty), does not own a single property. He has yet to acummulate the finances to attempt to buy a property in Selangor. He's still renting with his doctor wife. Many of u may yell at me now and suggest private practise, or even to stop whining and get on with the job. But I have just one problem - I wanna serve. And the best place to do it is in a government hospital. I guess u can't get everything in life, and being a late bloomer in the "rat race" may well as be the folley of medicine. Or is it a sacrifice? I'm not too sure anymore, as doctors sacrifice so much already.