Kate Collins67 said:Susan Rodriguez4 I can't even begin to wrap my head around what they’re saying here. Seriously, how does anyone look at this situation and think it makes any sense? It’s like we’re living in some kind of alternate reality where logic just went out the window—is that what we've become? Just accepting whatever nonsense gets pushed our way without a second thought? It's frustrating, honestly. You try to make a point, you try to point out the obvious flaws in the system, and then you get met with this level of sheer, unadulterated stupidity. It's enough to make you want to scream into a pillow. We need to be asking better questions—real questions—instead of just nodding along like everything is fine. Because it isn't fine. Not by a long shot.
Of course they’re going to tie you down for ten years. It’s a total racket. You’ve got a hospital or a medical center sponsoring your residency, right? They’re covering your salary, paying for your entire medical school tuition, and even handling your pension and health insurance contributions. And then what? After three, four, or maybe five years of them footing the bill, they expect you to stay in their grip. It's basically a gilded cage—they pay for everything upfront just to make sure they own your career for the next decade. Makes sense from their perspective, I guess, but isn't it just a way to manufacture indentured servitude under the guise of "professional development"? Honestly, what’s even the point of having that doctor around during residency? It feels like a complete waste of time—seriously, why bother? Most of the specialists are already out working at different hospitals or private practices anyway, so they aren't even physically there to actually help. It's just one more layer of useless bureaucracy when you're trying to get things done.
It’s honestly ridiculous how the system is set up—even after you finish all that grueling medical school and residency, there's this binding contract hanging over your head. Basically, you're forced to sign an agreement where you owe the hospital or university that funded your training twice the length of your actual schooling. You're essentially indentured to them! And if you decide you want some actual freedom or a better opportunity elsewhere? They come after you for every cent of the tuition plus massive penalties. How is that even remotely fair? Is this supposed to be "serving the community," or is it just a way for big healthcare systems to trap talent? It feels less like a career path and more like a debt trap designed to keep doctors on a leash. Look, let’s be real here—does anyone actually believe they have to pay back every single cent of their wages and taxes? Because I certainly don't. It’s all just a giant, circular game of musical chairs played by people who think they can control every penny we earn. Why should we be expected to play by these rigid, suffocating rules when the system itself feels like it's constantly shifting under our feet? Is it even necessary to settle every little discrepancy, or is that just more bureaucratic nonsense designed to keep us running in circles? Honestly, it feels like a massive waste of energy. For most specializations, the money just moves around in circles—it’s all just shifting from one pocket to another without actually changing anything. We’re talking about a range of $30,000 to $50,000—and honestly, let’s be real for a second—is that even enough anymore? When you look at the numbers, it feels like we're just spinning our wheels. Is anyone actually seeing that kind of money go as far as it used to? It feels like a drop in the bucket when you consider how much everything costs these days.Honestly, it’s about time we started looking at this logically—the amount should be scaling down proportionally with every single year that passes. Why wouldn't it? It just makes sense to have it decrease steadily as the years go by.
So, let me get this straight—even after all that, the doctor decides to just pull the plug on the contract early? And what happens next? They sit down with the facility and hammer out some convenient little deal for a 7 or 10-year repayment plan—no late fees, no interest, nothing—and then they just walk right out the door into private practice, pocketing $2,000 in the process? Are you kidding me? Is that really how the system works now?$1000 So, let me get this straight—we’re actually talking about monthly interest-free loans now? Are you kidding me? Is this some kind of joke or a fever dream? I mean, seriously, where does the math even work out on that? You can't just pull these things out of thin air without someone, somewhere, footing the bill. It sounds great on paper—doesn't it? It sounds like a total lifesaver when you're staring down a stack of bills—but there's always a catch. There is *always* a catch. Who is actually providing this? Some massive bank looking to lure people in with a shiny carrot before they hit them with hidden fees? Or is it some government program that’s going to evaporate the second the political wind shifts? Honestly, it feels too good to be true, which usually means it's a trap. What’s the fine print actually saying? Because I guarantee you, once you dig past the headline, there's a mountain of strings attached.
Honestly, if you ask me, these contracts are way too soft. We need much heavier penalties and significantly longer repayment terms if we actually want to see any real accountability. Why are we even settling for these weak terms? It’s ridiculous.
Are you living in some kind of parallel universe? Seriously, what are we even doing here?
Look, it’s just one piece of the puzzle—it isn't the whole damn specialization. What’s even the point? In that first phase, you basically pour your entire soul into the job, breaking every rule in the book just to satisfy this institution that—as much as they love telling me—is supposedly "providing for me." But let's be real: they aren't actually fulfilling their end of the bargain when it comes to education. Instead of getting actual training, you just end up becoming a self-taught doctor. Is that really what we're calling professional development these days? It's ridiculous.
Look, they basically have to pay back every cent of those salaries and taxes—money they didn't even actually earn. Think about the math here: they’re paying out specialist-level gross salaries when all they're actually receiving are specialist-trainee rates. So, they take that money, pay themselves for the work they did for the institution, and then what? You end up in this absurd loop where you're essentially working a job only to rack up a massive debt in the process. It’s madness. Every single paycheck that hits your account ends up being treated like a personal loan you owe back to the system. Can you even wrap your head around that level of stupidity? Imagine working your tail off just to realize you actually owe the employer money for the privilege of working there. It's completely backwards.
Look, let’s get real about the numbers here—we're talking roughly $200,000 to $350,000 just for the specialization itself. That’s the ballpark figure. And keep in mind, that price tag is specifically for the folks who aren't going under a formal contract—you know, the ones who choose to pay their own way out of pocket. But there's a massive catch that people seem to gloss over: you aren't pulling in a salary, and you aren't paying into any benefits or social security during those four grueling years. It's a massive gamble, isn't it?
1. The issue of self-taught doctors is unfortunately everywhere in the medical field. Our education system is pathetic; knowledge isn't valued during training or afterward. But that's how it is in all government agencies. Doctors are no exception here.
Likewise, doctors who get their white coats and specialize for a specific institution often feel neither gratitude nor any moral responsibility toward the entity that enabled them to train and acquire the knowledge that stays with them for life, rather than staying with the institution. That is exactly why these restrictive contracts were created.
2. Yes, you have to pay back the salary (my mistake), and in some hospitals, you even have to pay back the specialist's salary that was covering your position while you were learning.
You aren't creating debt because you aren't performing your full job. In reality, you're getting paid upfront. I wonder what your stance would be if you only started receiving a paycheck after you actually began working for the institution you specialized for? How would you survive during your training? That’s why I say the institution is feeding you. They are paying you in advance for future work. (A gross salary of $4000 comes to 432 $0.00 over 3 years).
3. Residency costs $5000 per year. Knowledge is the cheapest commodity we have.
People who "refuse" to sign a contract pay for their own training, but no one gives them a paycheck during that time; they have to find another way to earn money to eat and live. On top of that, they still have to pay for Social Security and Medicare. During that same period, for those under "contract," the institution pays out that 432 $0.00.
Therefore, a contract is the most normal way for an employer to protect themselves and their investment. You see this in every private corporation and business. The government is the only entity with enough cash to not care if they train someone only for that person to jump ship to another job. A private employer can't and won't allow that.
Look, medicine might be the only field where the government has actually adopted a market-based approach. Unfortunately, the contracts vary wildly, drafted under vague regulations and unclear criteria, which makes them a constant source of frustration and confusion. But if they are needed, they are. They just need clear criteria and parameters. But Milinović doesn't have the guts to implement that, because then the "chosen ones" wouldn't be able to dodge the contracts.
