You may have your plans set on stone the moment you enter medical school. But through the course of your studies, you begin to see other aspects of your would-be profession. Finally, you do get awarded the degree, the title, the responsibility to practice medicine, and another dilemma – what kind of practice should you go into? There are a lot of factors to consider before deciding whether you’d go into private practice or work in a government hospital.
Government vs. private hospitals
Public hospitals are government-run medical institutions, which make healthcare also accessible to indigents. These medical institutions are dependent on the national budget for the supply of medical equipment, the maintenance of the facilities, and for the fees paid to the medical professionals employed in such. Private hospitals, on the other hand, are owned and run by private individuals or entities such as healthcare insurers. Funding comes from the hospital fees that these institutions charge to patients.
Medical facilities and equipment
Excellent medical equipment and facilities are often hard to come by in public hospitals. Usually, the funds allotted for a year of service is very limited. Private hospitals, meanwhile, have enough funds from the fees charged to patients to continually update and develop their facilities and services. If you prefer to work in a hospital that would foster research and development in the field of medicine, as well as easy access to facilities and equipment, practicing in privately run hospital might be good for you.
Salaries and debts
Admittedly, the salary for doctors in public hospitals are not as high as those that doctors in private hospitals. The workload is not the same as well, because more patients flock to public hospitals for the cheap or even free medical services. Private practice allows you to attend to a limited number of patients, as private hospitals usually charge higher fees.
Repaying your debts and loans, however, can be remedied immediately when you work for government hospitals. There are some student loan programs that ask students to perform public service for a certain period of time as a form of payment. But if the salary you get from practicing in a private hospital is enough, you can also repay your debts easily. With a little financial management, you can pay off your loans in just a short while.
Photo Credit : Joe Shlabotnik
