Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine

Application for GDFM Intake 2023 – 2025 has ended.

General Information

Introduction

The GDFM is a structured 24-months part time training programme for doctors in Singapore. It is jointly organised by the College of Family Physicians Singapore (CFPS) and the Division of Graduate Medical Studies (DGMS), NUS Medicine.

Aims and Objective

GDFM aims to provide a comprehensive and structured training programme for doctors working in primary care so that they can practice Family Medicine at an competent level, catering to the healthcare needs of the child, the adolescent, the adult and the elderly.

Eligibility

Candidate must possess the following to be eligible to register for the GDFM programme:

  • A basic degree of the MBBS or equivalent qualification registered with the Singapore Medical Council (SMC)
  • Full or Conditional registration with the SMC; Temporary registered practitioners must support their applications with a letter of recommendation from their HOD. Provisional registration doctors are not eligible to apply.
  • Must fulfill CME requirements
  • Must have 1 full year working experience in Singapore at point of course registration
  • Must hold a current and valid practicing certificate
  • Must have at least 20 active clinical hours per week

Application for GDFM

The GDFM course registration period will only be published nearer to the opening date of application each year. Commencement of the programme is in July each year and training will end in June at the second year of the training. Registration link will be made available on this page when application opens.

Course Overview

The programme is designed for practicing doctors who may have a busy work schedule. The distance learning components enable the learning of core knowledge and skills. Interaction with peers, trainers and expert resource persons are conducted via e-Learning and face-to-face sessions are conducted outside regular office hours. The course is divided into 8 modules, each comprising of 2 learning units. Each module includes (conducted over the period of 3 months):

  • Reading materials for self-study (Downloadable from e-learning website)
  • Online case studies and multiple-choice assessments
  • 4 interactive Saturday/Sunday afternoon seminars (2.5 hours in duration each)
  • 1 tutorial for each module (2-3 hours in duration each)

In addition to the 8 modules, candidates must complete 3 GDFM specific short courses, the Mock Exam Clinical Revision Course (CRC), 1 elective and 3 compulsory Family Practice Skills Course (FPSC). These are short courses conducted over 2 weekends that cover specific areas in Family Medicine.

There is also the BCLS competency certificate which is mandatory for examination applications with DGMS, NUS. Candidates must satisfy the BCLS requirements on their own.

18 Months of FM-Related Clinical Practice

Trainees are required* to complete 18 months* of FM-related clinical practice. Candidates who had completed the relevant clinical postings up to 3 years prior to application into GDFM programme are accepted.

*This requirement and its implementation will be further reviewed

Recognised FM-related clinical postings are:

Primary Care

Minimum 6 months, can be entire 18 months; or 8 hours per week in approved FM practice over 2 years (e.g. Polyclinics, GP clinics)

Recognise up to 6 months each for the listed postings:

Emergency Medicine
Children’s Emergency/Paediatric Medicine
Internal Medicine
Geriatric Medicine
Community Hospital
Home Care
Palliative Medicine

Recognise up to 3 months each for the listed postings:

Psychiatry
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Orthopaedics
General Surgery
Nursing Home Care

Before graduation from programme and eligibility for exam (experience prior to GDFM training may be recognised, up to 5 years before graduation from programme)

 

Programme Details

8 FMTP Modular Courses (FMMC)

The FMTP Modular Course (FMMC) consists of 4 weekends afternoon per quarter. The structure of each module consists of 2 units. Each unit consists of 4 chapters; each chapter has 2 case studies. One workshop covers 4 case studies. At each workshop, the case studies of 2 chapters would be covered, i.e. 4 case studies. The active tutorial groups are to present to the class on the case study they are assigned to. The rest of the trainees are encouraged to field questions relating to the case studies. Attendance of at least 3 out of the 4 workshops (i.e. minimum 75% attendance per module) is mandatory for each FMMC module to be certified complete. The 8 modules are: 

  • Module 1 - Respiratory Problems, ENT & Eye Problems
  • Module 2 - Child & Adolescent; Gastro-intestinal Problems
  • Module 3 - Chronic Disease Management. Haematology, Oncology & Palliative Care
  • Module 4 - Elder Care; Mental Health
  • Module 5 – Health Promotion & Disease Prevention; Skin Problems & STI
  • Module 6 - Work Related Health; Renal & Urological Problems. Endocrine Problems
  • Module 7 - Women's Health (Gynae); Emergent Problems & Acute Medicine
  • Module 8 - Women's Health (Obst); Neuro-muscular Disorders

GDFM Tutorials

The GDFM tutorials are conducted once per quarter (after the conclusion of the four weekend workshops) and are based on the theme of the FMMC module of that particular quarter. Each trainee is assigned to a tutorial group of 10-15 mentored by 2-3 GDFM tutors. Trainees are to arrange with their respective tutor for the tutorial at a mutually agreed location and time. There are a total of 8 tutorials for the 2-year course and all tutorials are compulsory. Trainees are required to sign on the tutorial attendance sheet.

E-Learning

Quarterly MCQ Assessment

Each quarter, trainees are required to log on to the e-learning website and complete the MCQ assessments pertaining to the module covered in the quarter.

GDFM Practice Management Courses (PMC)

The GDFM Practice Management Courses emphasize on basic clinical diagnostic and management skills essential to general practice and will be conducted in the two years. The 3 GDFM PMC courses are:

  • Principle of Family Medicine & Practice Management Skills Course (P&P)

There are 6 units of study delivered through distance learning, e-Learning case scenarios and one afternoon session of workshop.

  • Unit 1: Principles of Family Practice (1)
  • Unit 2: Principles of Family Practice (2)
  • Unit 3: Managing the Practice
  • Unit 4: Computer Use & Literature Search
  • Unit 5: Financial Management
  • Unit 6: Practice Audit 
  • Consultation, Communication & Counselling Skills Course (CCC)

There 6 units of study delivered through distance learning, e-Learning case scenarios and two afternoon sessions of workshops.

  • Unit 1: Communication in Clinical Practice
  • Unit 2: Counselling Skills
  • Unit 3: Behaviour Change
  • Unit 4: Counselling within the consultation
  • Unit 5: Counselling in specific situation
  • Unit 6: Speaking to children

  • Professionalism, Ethics & Law Skills Course (PEL)

There are 6 units of study delivered through distance learning, e-Learning case scenarios and three afternoon sessions of workshops.

  • Unit 1: Professionalism
  • Unit 2: Ethics
  • Unit 3: Medical Records & Confidentiality
  • Unit 4: Notification, Certification & dispensing
  • Unit 5: Practice Issues, Advertising, PHMC Act
  • Unit 6: Setting Up Practice

GDFM Clinical Revision Course (CRC)

Trainees are required to complete the GDFM Clinical Revision Course in the same year in which they will be taking the GDFM Part 2 OSCE examination. Trainees are to ensure that they have fulfilled all the requirements of the GDFM programme before attempting on this course. In the event that a trainee needs to retake the revision course or take it in a year different from the one scheduled for, he/she would be liable to pay for the applicable course fees.

The GDFM Clinical Revision Course aims to prepare trainees for the GDFM examinations and is divided into 2 parts:

A. Written Paper Mock Exam (To be completed via the e-Learning website)

  • Applied Knowledge Test (MCQ), and
  • Key Features Problems

B. Problems Clinical Mock Exam (OSCE)

The OSCE mock exam is conducted via Zoom session, usually on Saturday afternoon(s), and covers:

  • Briefing on GDFM OSCE Examination
  • OSCE Demonstration
  • OSCE Mock Exercise for Trainees
  • Feedback Session

Family Practice Skills Course (FPSC) – One Compulsory Elective

(Fees not included in GDFM programme fee)

Trainees may choose to do any ONE 2-Afternoons Family Practice Skill Courses (FPSC) or TWO 1-Afternoon FPSC conducted by the College of Family Physicians Singapore to be counted as electives under the GDFM programme. Typically, each FPSC consists of:


2-Afternoons Family Practice Skills Courses:

  • Two seminars and two workshops
  • Online Assessment (MCQs) test which is based on the Singapore Family Physician Journal (SFP)
  • Reading papers: A selection of 10 papers will be presented. Course participants are advised to choose up to five for self-study.

1-Afternoon Family Practice Skills Courses:

  • 1 seminar and 1 workshop
  • Online Assessment (MCQs) which is based on the Singapore Family Physicians Journal (SFP)
  • Reading Papers: A selection of 10 papers will be presented. Course participants are advised to choose up to five for self-study.


3 Compulsory Family Practice Skills Course (FPSC)

Trainees are required to complete the following 3 compulsory FPSC:

  1. Chronic Disease Management
  2. Mental Health
  3. Geriatric Care

These FPSCs are conducted over 2 weekends afternoon (Sat & Sun). Attendance for workshops and online assessments are compulsory.

Components may vary from course to course. Trainees are required to fulfil all the required components of the FP.

GDFM Examination

The examination is conducted by the Division of Graduate Medical Studies, NUS and successful candidates would be awarded the Graduate Diploma of Family Medicine (GDFM) by NUS. For information on the GDFM Examination, please refer to the DGMS website here

Trainees are required to fulfill all training requirements and pass the GDFM examination to graduate from the programme. 

Non-refundable Registration fees

Non-refundable Registration fees

S$ 216*


GDFM Course Fee Y2023

College Member:

S$ 9,315.67*

Non-College Member:

S$ 11,189.21*

* Non-refundable Registration fees and Course fees stated are inclusive of 8% GST. Course fee does not include the fees for Family Practice Skills Course Elective, BCLS and examination.

Miscellaneous Fee – Members

Purpose of Fee 

Amount
(with GST, if any) 
(S$)  

Re-taking Mock Examination (Clinical Revision Course)  

291.60 

Re-taking of GDFM Module (inclusive of tutorial, workshops & MCQs)

486 (per module)

Re-taking of Practice Management Courses (P&P, CCC & PEL) (inclusive of MCQs)

442.80 to 496.80  

 

Miscellaneous Fee – Non-Members

Purpose of Fee 

Amount
(with GST, if any) 
(S$)  

Family Practice Skill Course (FPSC) Elective -
(1 TWO DAYS OR 2 ONE-DAY FPSC) 

216 to 302.40 

Family Practice Skill Course (FPSC) Compulsory-
(3 TWO-DAYS GEP)  

648.00 

Re-taking Mock Examination (Clinical Revision Course) 

310.30 

Re-taking of GDFM Module (inclusive of tutorial, workshops & MCQs)

486 (per module)

Re-taking of Practice Management Courses (P&P, CCC & PEL) (inclusive of MCQs)

442.80 to 550.80 

Miscellaneous Fees refer to any non-compulsory fees which the students pay only when applicable. Such fees are normally collected by the PEI when the need arises.


Refund Policy

Registration fee is non-refundable.

% of [the amount of fees paid for Course Fee]

If Student’s written notice of withdrawal is received:

80%

During the cooling-off period of seven (7) working days after the date that the Student Contract has been signed

0%

After the cooling-off period