August was supposed to be one of our driest months, but the skies seemed to be trying to embarrass the meteorologists this year. And more than a little embarrassed, are the meteorologists in Taiwan who failed to forecast the intensity of typhoon Morakot. The political storm the tragedy stirred up is no less devastating and for better or worse, His Holiness is in the news again.
Back home, a big FDI (World Dental Federation and not foreign direct investment in this case) convention was held at Suntec City. Our Chief Dental Officer, Prof Patrick Tseng, announced to points-desperate dentists who attended the convention that our decision makers have signed a mutual agreement earlier this year to allow dentists from Asean countries to practise in other member countries, subject to the qualification requirements in each country. This will be implemented in January next year.
The idea is so brilliant that I’m not sure if I could have possibly thought of it. An exchange of talent and currency between neighbouring ASEAN countries sounds just wonderful. Just imagine. Any dentist from the Philippines or Thailand can apply to work in Singapore. The dental school here will be flooded with applications and examination fees. More work. More staff. Bigger departments. Bigger budgets. It will give some of the lecturers here a chance to show their mettle. Hopefully the university would issue them with stab-proof vests as the examination candidates may not be as used to be stepped on like us.
The good news for me is, I probably won’t get anymore desperate Filipino dentists on tourist visas bothering me at Lucky Plaza. There is a channel open to them now.
And in apparent reciprocation, any dentist in Singapore can work in the Philippines too. It would be a great opportunity for me to work there and bring back some pesos which my wife and kids have not seen before. I know what you’re afraid of, but no, we shouldn’t be worried about our local dentists going after the peso or the baht and stop providing for the Singaporean public. The newsPAPer report also quoted the “dental community” saying that “Although this means that dentists here can also work in other Asean countries more easily, better earnings and facilities will help retain most of Singapore’s dentists.”
Well, yes. Why should we be afraid that our dentists would abandon Singapore to set up shop in a slum in Manila? Why would anyone set up a practice in Nakhon Nowhere, only to find out that nobody there has even heard of root canal treatment. But wait a minute. There is wisdom in the deal. Why not I sign a deal with Richard Branson. I can stay in his mansion in the Virgin Islands and he has full access to my HDB flat. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? If only Sir Richard could think the way that some people do.
After quoting the “dental community”, the newsPAPer article went on to quote Singapore Dental Association president Dr Lewis Lee. Dr Lee added that demand for dentists will always be there because of the growing population, medical tourism and the prevalence of dental diseases. So there should be no worry about competition or a glut of dentists.
No worry? Growing population? Medical tourism? Prevalence of dental diseases? Well, Dr Lee didn’t mention that population is not the only thing that is growing. Our rentals are also growing. Our hotels’ room rates are growing. Budget airlines are growing. Medical tourism in other low cost neighbouring countries where the dentists have higher morale is also growing.
Our newsPAPer reporter then went on to interview Dr Ng Chin Siau, who runs dental chain Q&M. Dr Ng reportedly said that the changes will give him more choices and acquire more specialists. That’s very good for Dr Ng. But what about the rest of us? The majority of dentists don’t run a chain of practices. Why didn’t our newsPAPer reporter speak to someone who is more representative of the majority? Because they are less willing to talk? Or are their opinions less important?
How does one know if there is a shortage or oversupply of dentists? From the complaints of long waiting time at public polyclinics? Or the lack of yesteryears’ crowds at neighbourhood clinics? In the 90s, I was seeing 25 patients at Hougang on a good day. In 2006 before I closed it down, I was only seeing 10 or less. It won’t take newPAPer reporters too much effort to check it with other HDB clinics with a history and come to a similar conclusion. Make no mistake about it. The supply of primary care dentists is reaching saturation point. It is no longer a lucrative profession.
According to MOH, there is one dentist for every 2500 Singaporeans. But every idiot knows that quantity is not equals to quality. I’ve had more than 3000 patients on record in Hougang. So what? It can’t beat the couple of hundred I have in Orchard. 500 good patients can beat 2500 or even 25000 alamaks. You don’t measure the supply of dentists and the demand for their services by looking at numbers, ratios and the long queues at polyclinics.
Dewdrop Notes
Dr Chan's Kitchen