We (my wife and I) made a few time discussions and research in pursuing a career as a Family Medicine specialist (Family Physician), and we chose Graduate Certificate in Family Medicine & Advanced Training in Family Medicine (GCFM-ATFM program) as our pathway to chase our dream.
One of the most important topics in our discussion is, “How to manage our finances in order to pay the tuition fee?”
We managed to know from the AFPM official website that the EPF withdrawal is possible, except for the ATFM.
Then, initially, we paid the 1st year GCFM tuition fee (i.e RM 8000) with our saving money from the Tabung Haji (TH). After that, we made a claim with EPF withdrawal and transferred back RM 8000 into our TH account. We still continue our TH saving monthly. The 2nd year GCFM tuition fee we made the same way too.
To avoid severe financial problems, we must aim to pass the GCFM, especially the final professional exam with a single attempt. (We made it in 2019, alhamdulillah).
After that, we took a 1-year break before enrolling in the ATFM, to focus on strengthening our finances. End of 2019, the ASB-finance account was registered.
We had mixed feeling about the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020. The ATFM intake 2020 was postponed to the next year, but we grabbed this opportunity to continue saving up our money.
We also tried to find any education loan or sponsorship, such as MARA, JPA, and any possible agencies. But, none of them could provide us with financial support.
In early 2022, one of our colleagues informed us that she successfully applied for EPF withdrawal. It really motivates us a lot in pursuing a Family Medicine specialization without financial burden.
Another good news! In February 2022, for the first time ever that the GCFM-ATFM program is listed for government sponsorship through “Hadiah Latihan Persekutuan (HLP)” as one of the parallel pathway specializations in Family Medicine. Unfortunately, it is limited to contract doctors for the time being. So, we have no chance.
Never mind, we proceeded with the EPF withdrawal “Pengeluaran Pendidikan”. Alhamdulillah, the process of the application went smoothly. Well, It is 4 of us (study group) who successfully made it on the same day to the EPF office. (The claim already credited to our bank account today, 25.3.2022)
Read our entry, “How to withdraw EPF for the ATFM fee payment”: CLICK HERE
GP General Practitioner 
Hi, you mentioned that FRACGP through this pathway is recognised in Singapore. However a check with the Singapore Medical Council website with the list of specialisties eligible for conditional registration listed FRACGP as “trained for the fellowship entirely in Australia only”. If that is the criteria, wouldnt that make our FRACGP obtained through this conjoint pathway not recognised in Singapore? For context, I got my FRACGP through the conjoint exam pathway, 2018 batch, before the switch to icFRACGP. Any comment on this? Appreciate your thoughts, thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi. Thank you for the comment. Currently, I’m an ATFM candidate, we aware about the change of “FRACGP” to “icFRACGP”. Since that time, we noticed whoever takes the conjoint exam in Malaysia, the title of MAFP/icFRACGP only recognised by the MMC & NSR as a Family Physician that practicing in Malaysia only. But there are certain conditions by the RACGP itself that we could get full FRACGP. Please pay a visit an entry we made here: https://gpgeneralpractitioner.com/2021/08/11/fracgp-fellowship-of-the-royal-australian-college-of-general-practitioners/ . Unfortunately, we don’t have any experience or extend knowledge about your situation. Sorry. . .
LikeLike
I see.. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Appreciate it in any case. Cheers ~
LikeLiked by 1 person
hi i’m currently enrolled with GCFM batch this year (self-fund), i heard rumour saying that the enrollment of gcfm/atfm after 2022 need to have hlp in order to get gazettement in order to practice as FMS in malaysia, is it true? where can i validate this info?
LikeLike
hi i’m currently enrolled with GCFM batch this year (self-fund), i heard rumour saying that the enrollment of gcfm/atfm after 2022 need to have hlp in order to get gazettement in order to practice as FMS in malaysia, is it true? where can i validate this info?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello. It is still a rumour. No black-and-white of compulsory to take HLP. The GCFM-ATFM programme for all doctors in government/private/university/military-based primary care setting. Please continue your study. For this matter, we just need to wait and see.
LikeLike
Reading through all your posts, intrigued me to pursue this parallel pathway. But I have few uncertain matters I wish someone could help me with.
I came from private gp background. Do you have a group chat that I could join which have Private GP alumni that passed/ currently sitting for this paper who wud share a bit in regards of this exam & what not?
Wish you have a smooth journey in your atfm studies~
LikeLiked by 1 person