Singapore has started outsourcing radiology services to India.
At the moment, simple X-rays are reported in India with a fantastic
turnaround time of 30 mins, performed by a teams of cheap Indian
radiologists. There is talk of outsourcing more complex X-rays in
future as well.
Local radiologists will be limited to therapeutic radiology (giving
treatment by special injections under X-ray guidance) if they have
any chance of survival. For those who have been doing routine
diagnostic radiology (making diagnoses by X-rays), their options
are: take a massive pay cut to compete with the Indians or
emigrate. Therapeutic radiologists will be squeezed as well by the
influx of specialists who used to report X-rays. To sustain their
salaries, they will have to charge more but that is going to be
difficult because of increasing competition by fellow
radiologists.
The writing is on the wall for radiologists. For medical students
and junior doctors, you should consider cosmetic surgery or what is
now termed aesthetic medicine instead. With simple X-rays
outsourced to India, trainee radiologists will not get proper
training and even if you do qualify, you may not get a good
job.
I do not think this move by MOH is wrong. It is the shape of things
to come...outsourcing and competition will mean Singaporeans who
cannot compete will lose our jobs, and doctors are not protected
from economic forces.
Go into niche areas where there are no Indians or develop skills
that the Indians haven't acquired yet.
