The Doctor August 19, 2005   01:02 PM PDT   Well, as most of the world knows, MDs in the US are the best paid. Our licensing requirements are also the most strengent. First, a 4 year BS or BA is required to enter. Then you have the 4 years med school, where you must pass the NBME Parts I (end of 2nd year), II (4th year). Residence is from 3 to 7 years depending the area you choose (mine was 5) and the school. I have yet to see a 3 year Res, but they are out there. Then you must pass the NBME, Part III, and pass it every 5 years too! Then each state requires its own exam. The pass rate for US graduates is around 95% for step 2 and 3. Where as the pass rates for foriegn graduates for each step is around 50% which translates into a total of 12.5% of applicants. I have met a number of filipino immigrant nurses here that went to med school or pharmacy school in the phillipines, but couldnt pass the required exam, but they say they dont mind as the nurse's salary of $40,000 is so much nore than the MD's salary in their country. (how far would 2.24 million pesos/year go in your country?) You are paid during residency depending on the place you choose (or chooses you) the minimum was $2o,ooo when I graduated University and U of Michigan paid me $35,900. Now, the residencies pay about $40,000. When I finished, the starting Salary was about $125,000/ year for a Government Job and about $150,000 in the private sector (90% are private here). Last year, a Cardiogist started around $200,000. IM is much lower, at about $125,000. Social medicine is free medicine. It is not based on income. Here we have both private as well as government sponsored health care (for the poor). If you meet poverty levels, your health care is free, but generally of lower quality (not the practioners, but this health care is acute, not preventative).

	Potato August 16, 2005   05:47 PM PDT   With this, are most of the physicians in the phillipines government paid? Yes, they're paid, but very poorly. Like 15-20,000 pesos, maybe. That's really pathetic. (Exchange rate right now as I mentioned is 1:56) Is there social medicine? Hmmm...what is social medicine? (I'm not kidding) What is the the starting salary for a GP MD in a government hospital. Well that would be like a resident right? The most that a resident can hope for is about 16,000 pesos. The hospital I'm applying at will only give me 8,000 a month, so i'll really be relying on my parents all throughout residency and fellowship. starting salary in Private practice? Well if it's private practice, then it really depends on the doctor's conscience and honesty. I'm proud to say that my Dad is one of the most generous people around, and charges his patients almost nothing. That's why they keep coming :) Hey, how about you answering your own questions?? I would be very grateful. Thank you! ;)

	The Doctor August 15, 2005   01:30 AM PDT   That puts it in a whole new perspective. The average salary in California is about $76,000. The povery level is set around 20,000. I have not been to the Phillipines, but I volunteered 7 years in South East asia as well as Africa. So with the stats you gave me, I do understand. Poor is a relevant term. With this, are most of the physicians in the phillipines government paid? Is there social medicine? What is the the starting salary for a GP MD in a government hospital. starting salary in Private practice?

	Potato August 14, 2005   11:41 AM PDT   I guess that's okay; if it's used for procreation. But here, no one has much in the way of insurance. Even if they do (like if they have Philhealth or medicards), it barely covers the minimum expenses for healthcare. Only about 25% is taken off the bill, then the patient has to pay for the rest. I say that Viagra is expensive relative to the average salaries of people here. Some professionals (like licensed architects or CPA's) only get paid P8,000 a month, or $142! Can you imagine that? And they would have to worry about their food, electricity, living expenses, the tuition fees of their children, etc. And then you have Viagra which costs 1/10th of that already. So it's really only feasible for the higher 10% of our population, which are the old/noveau riche, the movie stars, the corrupt politicians, etc. The average person here (60% of Filipinos live below the poverty line and earn less than $100/month) can't even worry about their health anymore. They find it hard enough to keep food on the table, especially with the rocketing oil prices. They say that at the end of the year, 1 liter of gas will cost as much as $1! When that happens, a lot of people are going to starve :(

	The Doctor August 14, 2005   09:32 AM PDT   Potato, Though each country is different. Insurance will cover use of Viagra. cialis or Levitra, but only for procreation use. Funny, not for pleasure, but to make babies. Since, the window for conception is only 7 days, that is all the insurance will pay for. For patience that need only 50mg, a script for 7 tab 100 mg (have pt cut in half) provides for twice the fun. On the comment of expensive drugs: A recent article stated General Motors pays more on health care than steel. A Harvard study indicated that half of personal bankruptcies in the U.S. are health related. Even as the ranks of uninsured grow, The Americans' $1.7 trillion annual doctor bill continues to grow by at least 7% each year! I have no idea the cost of drugs in the Phillipines, but here it is rediculous. For uninsured, the top of the list are: statins, cox2 inhibitors (limited use now), and all proton pump inhibitors. Some examples are: lovenox = $ 30 / dose (any lmwh is expensive) Enbrel = $375 /dose xeloda = $ 13 / pill

  

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