Government vs Private: Where to work?

I have been asking myself and some few batch mates this question ever since we passed the boards and looked for a job. I actually ended up getting a job in a private institution but now, I am currently working in a government institute. So now that I personally experienced applying for a job, working for and earning from both private and government institutions, let me share what I learned and try to answer the question, "Where to work?".

For newly passed Med Teks, the usual instinct is to get a job nearest home. The end result is working at a hospital most convenient to them without considering if it is a private or a public hospital/clinic. Honestly, I did the same thing. But I did inquire and applied to both big private and government hospitals.
When it comes to application and getting hired, here are the scenarios that came across. A certain well-known tertiary government hospital in Manila needs you to undergo a six months externship/training without pay and without any assurance of getting hired. On the other hand, two well-known private tertiary hospitals (one in Manila and one in Quezon city) wanted you to train for 3 months without pay but with assurance of getting hired (casual or contractual, not regular). Private and free-standing labs immediately hire RMT's and pay you during training.


About the volume of work, it all depends on how big the hospital is. But you have to consider that most government hospitals have fewer staffs compared to private hospitals.
Another concern is the income. I could say that this is one of the biggest factors in getting any job for that matter. People tend to get a job that would compensate for the work and effort that they give, especially us hard-working Med Teks. Truth be told, most government hospitals give a better pay than the private ones. They even have more benefits than private companies. But if you can find private universities with hospitals, this institutions would give their medical staffs discounts on their family's tuition fees if enrolled in their school/university.
Aside from income growth, you may also consider career growth and promotion. In a private hospital setting, the usual setup is you start as junior Med Tek. As years of service pass by, you become a senior and you might get a chance to be a section head. After more years of service and maybe a master's degree, you might be eligible for a supervisory position or as we call it, the chief Med Tek. As to rank and file, in a government setting, it might be a bit complex. The common entry position is the Laboratory Technician II (or its equivalent). Then, you might get promoted to Med Tech I, Med Tech II, and so on provided that there is an opening. There is also a strict requirement prior to promotion such as certifications or a master's degree.
When it comes to training and seminars, I think both private and government hospitals give their employees a chance to attend seminars. On a personal note, I only attended PAMET conventions sponsored by med reps when I was in a private hospital versus a couple of seminar and a convention in just 1 year in a government institution.
There are probably more other factors to consider in choosing between government and private. Choosing where to work will definitely be a personal preference. All these factors are debatable and would have to be considered. In general, I still believe that there is no specific answer to the question. Again, it all depends on the person and his goal. For example, the Med Tek is in need of money and a job immediately, he would probably opt to go for a private hospital or a free standing lab rather than go to a long process of employment in a government hospital. In contrast, a young newly passed RMT, who has all the time in the world, may want to consider a government hospital despite the long process. A Med Tek who does not want to work abroad might also prefer choosing a government hospital over a private one because of the income, retirement benefits and health benefits. (Thinking of working abroad? Read this - To leave or not to leave). As for me, I don't to leave you with a hanging question so let me answer it with a bit of courage. haha! I'll go with government hospitals because of better income and benefits. Plus, they give trainings (and sometimes out of the country trainings with pay!). But as for research and studies, not hospitals, I have to say private companies but just by a hairline. haha!



Med Teks... where to work? Leave your comments and suggestions.


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