Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

FAQs

  1. Eligibility to enter Programme
  2. Programme Curricula and Requirements
  3. Postgraduate Training Management System (PTMS)
  4. Medical Officer Posting Exercise (MOPEX)
  5. Fees and Payments
  6. Non-Trainee Logbook
  7. Examinations
  8. GDFM Co-payment Scheme
1. Eligibility
  (a)

What are eligibility criteria for Master of Medicine (Family Medicine) Programme A?
   

Candidates would need to have full or conditional registration with the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) or be temporary registered with at least 1 year of working experience in public hospital upon application deadline. They would also have to be successful in the Ministry of Health Basic Specialty Trainee (MOH BST) Selection Exercise.
  (b) What are eligibility criteria for Master of Medicine (Family Medicine) Programme C?
   

Candidates would require full or conditional registration with SMC and be successful in the MOH BST Selection Exercise. They must also have completed GDFM (Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine) and at least 4 of the list of postings (i.e. 2 years of required hospitals/ polyclinic postings). They must be currently employed by the Clusters.
  (c) I am a MINDEF Regular MO.  How do I apply as a BST in Family Medicine?
    NSF-liable officers can apply for pre-selection at both May and November Traineeship exercises. Hardcopy of application forms and supporting documents are to be submitted to the FMRAC Secretariat. (Online application is not applicable for pre-selection cases). If selected, their traineeship places would be reserved for 1 year or 2 years respectively. Upon appointment by the FMRAC, traineeship will commence 1 day after ORD. Do also note that officers who receive poor performance ratings while in MINDEF are liable to have their traineeship withdrawn.
  (d) I am a Temporarily-registered Doctor. How do I apply as a BST in Family Medicine?
   

For temporary-registered doctors, all applications have to be supported and submitted through their respective Chairmen of Medical Boards or Directors of Institutions by mail to the FMRAC Secretariat. Your application will not be processed if the application form is not completely filled up and/or the posting history and the relevant performance assessment forms are not submitted.

Temporary-registered doctors much have worked a minimum of 1 year by the deadline of application and have been rotated to at least 2 departments in one or more public institutions in Singapore.
     
2. Programme Curricula and Requirements
  (a)

What are the latest requirements for the Professorial / Mega Sessions?
    The Professorial / Mega Sessions are now known as Joint or Combined Teaching Sessions as they are being conducted jointly by NHG and Singhealth Polyclinics. The training requirement is to attend at least 5 out of 6 sessions. For other requirements of the 6-month structured training programme in Primary Care, kindly refer to programme details under Programme A.   
  (b)

When do trainees need to attend the Joint Sessions?
   

The joint or combined teaching sessions (professorial) are now part of the 6-month structured training programme in Primary Care. Trainees may attend these sessions during their polyclinic posting.
 

(c)

The Ethics Course is one of  the 5 components in the 6-month Structured Training programme in Primary Care.  Must I attend the Ethics Course only during these 6 months while training at the Polyclinic?
   

Trainees can attend the Ethics Course at any time during their traineeship. All trainees are required to register for the course conducted by the Singapore Medical Association and make payment directly to SMA. For more information on the course schedule, please enquire with SMA at their general line:  6223 1264  6223 1264 or visit their website: www.sma.org.sg
 

(d)

In what circumstances would a deferment of traineeship be considered?
    Deferment of traineeship would be considered under maternity, childcare, reservist training and medical circumstances.
 

(e)

What is the procedure to apply for deferment?
   

To apply for deferment of traineeship, you will have to write in to the FMRAC, addressing the official letter of appeal to the Chairmen of FMRAC. Please sign and date the letter and mail to:

FMRAC Secretariat
Division of Graduate Medical Studies
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
National University of Singapore
Blk MD5, Level 3, 12 Medical Drive
Singapore 117598
 

(f)

To whom should I direct my queries and appeals to?
    For appeals and enquiries on Family Medicine Traineeship issues, you may contact the FMRAC Secretariat at 6516 4261 or email us.
     
3. Postgraduate Training Management System (PTMS)
  (a)

When does the trainee and training supervisor need to assess each posting through PTMS?
   

PTMS will prompt Trainees and Training Supervisors to submit their assessments 1 month before the end of a posting.

The assessment forms on PTMS are to be completed within 14 days of the end of each posting.
  (b)

Trainees who are posted to community hospitals and hospices are not able to do their posting assessments online. How do they submit their assessments?
    Assessment form can be downloaded from this website. Trainees can either mail their completed form to FMRAC or fax or email a scanned copy of their form to FMRAC Secretariat. The address, fax no. and e-mail address of FMRAC can be found under Contact Info.
  (c)

Is there an online logbook for Family Medicine trainees?
   

PTMS allows trainees to maintain his/her logbook online during his/her traineeship. Entries into the online logbook should be made from the beginning of the candidate’s appointment as a trainee in a recognised posting. The Training Supervisor is allowed to endorse a Trainee’s logbook if the trainee is under his/her supervision. The trainee will be able to view his/her logbook summary of endorsed logbook entries and generate a PDF file for printing.
  (d)

Who should I go to if I face a problem accessing PTMS?
   

For PTMS issues, you may wish to contact the PTMS helpdesk at  1800-213 7421  1800-213 7421 or email to: moh_ptms_helpdesk@csc.com .  The operating hours are from Monday to Friday, 0800 to 1800 hours.
     
4. Medical Officer Posting Exercise (MOPEX)
  (a)

Does a Family Medicine trainee participate in the eMOPEX like all MOs?
   

Yes. A trainee is still considered a Medical Officer and will have to make posting choices through eMOPEX. You may login to eMOPEX via the MOHH website (http://www.physician.mohh.com.sg/).
  (b)

Trainees submit a preference posting form on accepting the traineeship. Are these preferences final?
   

No. The choices submitted on the preference posting form (with the offer letter) are only an indicative preference. Actual posting will depend on service requirement and the availability of training positions in the hospital departments.
  (c)

The eMOPEX are designed to open for applications every 6 months. How do I state my preferences for two of my 3 monthly postings?
   

Like all MOs, Family Medicine trainees may make a minimum of 6 and maximum of 10 posting choices in numerical sequences where “1” stands for “most preferred”. During each eMOPEX, both 3 monthly postings of FM trainees are based on these preferences. As far as possible, trainees are posted to their first choice department in their first 3 monthly posting and their second choice department in their next 3 monthly posting.
     
5. Fees and Payments
  (a)

What is the application fee for Master of Medicine (Family Medicine) Programme A?
   

SGD55.00 (inclusive of GST)
  (b)

What is the application fee for Master of Medicine (Family Medicine) Programme C?
   

SGD55.00 (inclusive of GST)
  (c)

What is the traineeship fee for Master of Medicine (Family Medicine) Programme A?
   

SGD535.00 (inclusive of GST)
  (d)

What is the traineeship fee for Master of Medicine (Family Medicine) Programme C?
   

SGD850.00 (inclusive of GST)
  (e)

Is there any penalty for late payment of fee(s)?
   

Yes. A penalty payment of SGD50.00 will be imposed for late payment of traineeship fees for all programmes.
     
6. Non-Trainee Logbook
  (a)

What is the purpose of  the non-Trainee Logbook?
    The Non-Trainee Logbook is made available to Medical Officers to record their training in each of the postings in brief detail so that experiences can be recorded and deficiencies identified and remedied. It also helps supervisors/trainers to assess overall training and provide extra experience for trainees in areas where it is most needed. For non-trainee Medical Officers, the non-trainee logbook is used to document pre-requisite postings for future entry into Master of Medicine (Family Medicine) Programme C.
     
7. Examinations
  (a)

When is the Master of Medicine (Family Medicine) Examination held?
   

The MMed (FM) Examination is held once a year, in November.
  (b)

What are the eligibility criteria for the Master of Medicine (Family Medicine) Examination?
   

For MMed Exam eligibility criteria, you may refer to the Examination section here.
     
8. GDFM Co-Payment Scheme
  (a)

I would like to apply for the GDFM co-payment scheme.  What are the eligibility criteria?
   

The GDFM co-payment scheme is only applicable to non-trainee MOs working within the clusters and who are less than 6 years of graduation from medical school. They would have to fulfil all the GDFM training requirements and reimbursement will only be processed upon proof of having attempted the GDFM exams, regardless of the results. For more information, you may refer to the GDFM Co-Payment Scheme for non-trainee Medical Officers section here.
  (b)

Would a successful applicant still be reimbursed if he/she leaves a public hospital to become a private GP while pursuing the GDFM?
   

As long as the doctor applies for the Co-Payment Scheme when he/she is in the public sector, he/she will be reimbursed after 2 years. If he/she leaves for the private sector after a year or so, he/she will still get the reimbursement. That is provided the trainee fulfils all the GDFM training requirements and can produce proof of having attempted the GDFM exam.