Reason for Requiring Trainees to Co-pay Monthly Training Fee for Certain Medical Specialties

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Health (a) why do certain medical specialties require trainees to co-pay an additional monthly training fee for the entire duration of their training; and (b) whether the Ministry has studied the effects that such de facto additional training costs have on applications by junior doctors who are from families that are less well-off.

Postgraduate medical training is highly subsidised by the Government, regardless of specialty. Residents undergoing specialist training in selected popular specialties co-pay $450 per month for their training. This takes into account the high costs of specialist training and is to encourage junior doctors to consider specialising in other areas, that are more needed to meet future national healthcare demand.