Programme C

The Master of Medicine (Family Medicine) Programme C is tailored for non-trainee doctors who are currently working in the clusters and are keen to pursue the MMed (FM) after having obtained their Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (GDFM). These doctors may not have fulfilled the 5 years of primary care experience to be eligible for MMed (FM) Programme B. The MMed (FM) Programme C will last for 1.5 years.

During this period, the healthcare clusters will manage the doctors as trainees and ensure that they fulfill the remaining postings and structured training programme within the polyclinics. As trainees, the doctors will be eligible for PGTF-funded training hours and leave. Completion of Programme C will be a requirement for doctors to be eligible for the MMed (FM) exams.

Aims and Objectives:
The overall training objective is to produce a professional and competent family physician that has the following qualities (as defined in the Family Medicine Training Logbook):

• Able to practice competently and independently on his/her own
• Possess the necessary skills to set up and maintain a practice either as solo or group practice
• Provide good primary care with emphasis on health promotion, health education, disease prevention, and chronic disease management. This would result in better primary care, appropriate referral and usage of specialist services, better health for the nation and reduce health care cost.
• Perform the role as a doctor, health care coordinator, manager, teacher
• Able to pursue continuing professional development on his/her own and in accordance to the changing practice trends and advances

Eligibility:

• Full or conditional registration with SMC
• Successful in MOH BST Selection Exercise
• Completion of GDFM (Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine)
• Completion of at least 4 of the list of postings (i.e. 2 years of required hospitals/ polyclinic postings)
• Must be currently employed by the Clusters

Course Overview:
Programme C consists of:

• Programme C consists of 1.5 years of hospital rotation and a 6-month compulsory primary care posting in the polyclinic. The details of the posting arrangements may change from time to time.
• MMed (FM) Programme C trainees would have already met the FOUR 6-monthly hospital posting and completion of GDFM requirements to qualify for the 1.5-year structured training programme. These pre-requisites would have been documented in the non-trainee logbook for FM and approved by the Family Medicine Residency Advisory Committee. (FMRAC).
• Trainees will need to complete the remaining THREE 6-monthly required postings within the 1.5 year traineeship. Refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 below.

FIG 1: POSTING & DURATION TO QUALIFY FOR MMED (FM) EXAM – Minimum 3.5 yrs

FIG 2: REQUIRED 6-MONTHLY POSTINGS TO QUALIFY FOR MMED (FM) EXAM

• Optional short attachments to General Practice clinics, Child Guidance Clinic and Health Promotion Board’s Youth Health Division.
• Compulsory 6-month Structured Training Programme in Primary Care

Other courses:

• Weeks Advanced FM course where foreign experts were brought in to impart his / her knowledge.
• MMed FM Revision Course - A 2-week full-time MMed Revision Course in FM, usually in August.