EASYUNI Ultimate University Guide 2013 Issue 2 | Page 7

CO U R S E S & C A REERS
KISS GOODBYE TO YOUR
LATE NIGHTS AT THE
MAMAK STALL. IT IS NOT
ABOUT YOU ANYMORE;
IT IS ABOUT OTHER
PEOPLE'S LIVES

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Facts to know

1.

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The average GP consultation lasts
just seven minutes (sometimes
less!). So it’s little wonder twothirds of us believe appointments with
the doctor feel too rushed or cut short.

2.

How to get the best out of your
session with your GP? Here are
some points to consider the next time
you visit a doctor:
• Do not be shy about what
went wrong – Doctors are a
professionally trained bunch, so
there is absolutely nothing to feel
shy about. Tell your doctor every
single symptom that you have felt.
• Keep track of symptoms with a
diary – For recurrent problems such
as tummy aches or headaches, note
what time of day the symptoms
emerge, what you are doing and
what you have eaten. It can help
with an accurate diagnosis. Ideally,
keep a diary for two weeks.
• When asking for a referral,
make your GP feel like he (or
she) is the boss – More often than
not, GPs are easily irked with their
patients if the latter comes in and
says that they want referrals or
prescriptions. As he is the doctor,
the GP decides if you need a referral
or prescription. The key is to make
your GP think it was their idea. So
use phrases such as “Are there any
other tests I could have that only a
specialist could perform?” or “Do I
have any unusual symptoms that a
specialist might help with?”
• Always get to the point when
addressing your problem – In
order not to waste anyone’s time
(especially your doctor’s precious
hours), always get to the point
when you are discussing your
health issues. Also, admit you have
not been taking your medication,
because if symptoms continue your
doctor might think he made the
wrong diagnosis.

How to gain experience?
GPs gain most of the clinical experience they need while being undergraduates
and, later postgraduate medical students. Useful experience could also be
gained by getting involved in medical or community-building charity work in
disadvantaged areas of Malaysia or the rest of the world.

What are the qualifications needed?
Becoming a GP in Malaysia could take from a minimum of six years to 10 years
to accomplish, which generally comprises five years at medical school and five
years of on-the-job training. To qualify for medical school, excellent results
in SPM/STPM/matriculation are required. Competition for places at medical
schools is generally tough, and prospective students must demonstrate a high
level of academic ability. Medical school graduates then have to work in a
general hospital for two years, where they are exposed to a number of different
medical specialties.
Once this period is complete, recent graduates must then choose a specialty. To
become a GP, the graduate must study ‘Specialist Training in General Practice’
which takes around three years to complete. Here the trainee will rotate through
a number of specialist areas such as paediatrics, psychiatry and general medicine.
During this period frequent assessments are undertaken. All GPs are required
to further their skills throughout their careers by completing specialist courses
and keeping themselves up-to-date on developments in medicine. For a list of
universities offering courses in Health and Medicine, go to http://bit.ly/
StudyMedicine

easyuni Guide 2013

Issue 2

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