After graduating from medical school, you have to make another difficult decision: the choice between practicing in government hospitals and in private hospitals. The choice between the two, of course, is subjective. It all depends on what matters to you most – equipment, facilities, or salary. So, which one is better: a government hospital or a private hospital?
Government vs. private hospitals
Government hospitals or public hospitals are medical institutions that are owned and funded by the government. The money used to pay for the services of medical practitioners, supply of medical equipment, and maintenance of medical facilities all come from the national budget. The types of medical institution that are funded by private owners, medical insurers, and hospital fees are called private hospitals.
Medical facilities and equipment
Because they have very limited funds, government hospitals lag behind private hospitals in terms of medical equipment and facilities. Private hospitals, thanks to the medical service fees paid by the patients, have enough funds to purchase the latest medical equipment. If you’d rather work in hospitals with high-tech facilities, then you should work in private hospitals. You are also assured of the availability of supplies, cleanliness of rooms, and efficiency of facilities.
Salaries and debts
In terms of salary, private hospitals offer higher salaries than government hospitals. Working in government hospitals, aside from not getting paid enough for your efforts, is extra stressful. Because the medical rates are either free or relatively cheap, more patients flock to government hospitals than private hospitals. As a doctor, you have to do your best to attend to all their medical needs – even if it means cutting your vacation short.
If you relied on government scholarships for financial support when you were in medical school, working in government hospitals is an effective way of immediately paying off your debt. Although you will not earn much money, working in government hospitals allows you to pay off your student loan in the form of public service. So, while your former classmates are still trying to figure out how to extend their payment terms, you are actually paying off your debt by simply doing what you love best – saving people’s lives.
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American and foreign students are given equal opportunity in US medical school admissions. It is because the admissions committees of medical schools consider academic excellence and medical school potential as criteria in looking future medical students. However, admission requirements for American and foreign students are not always the same. If you are a foreigner who wishes to apply to a US medical school, consider the following tips.
Practice speaking and writing in English.
English is the primary medium of communication in American schools. To get by with the lessons, you should be able to speak and understand English fluently. Try getting English lessons before you apply to a medical school. Read American books and articles. You must also train yourself to write in the language. Research papers, medical reports, books, and journals that you will use are all written in English.
Being able to speak in English fluently will not only boost your academic performance. It can also improve your self-confidence. You will have an easy time interacting with your professors and classmates if you speak English clearly.
Write a standout medical school admission essay.
If you want to increase your chances of admissions, write a good personal statement. Doing so will give you the chance to attract the attention of the admission panel. Don’t forget to contextualize the information in your essay to your situation. Also, utilize this admission requirement to cite why you want to enroll at an American medical school. Justify that you you have the ability to adapt yourself to a place with a different culture. Share your reasons for wanting an educational perspective different from what you currently have. If it is possible, write a short comparison between the education system of your home country to that of the US.
Although you have to write an exemplary personal statement, it is best to still maintain honesty. Take the time to proofread and edit your work too as simple errors in spelling and grammar can put off admissions committee members.
Medical schools in the US are tough for both American and foreign students. So do not be discouraged. Your origins and complexion will not matter in your application. Just remember, only you will call the shots for yourself.
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