actually, in the UK your entire education isn't free. medics pay tuition fees of £3225/year like everybody else, though the NHS covers your fees from year five onwards. most people pay it by taking a loan from the government which they begin to pay back like an extra tax once they earn over £15000/year.

also, I hear much much more chatter about HIGH doctors salaries than low - a lot of people are annoyed that general practioners (family doctors, basically) average over £100,000 per year for what doesn't look like a difficult job. GPs salaries are a regular beating stick for the "wasteful NHS".

I also remember the G:P from Michael Moore movie. Most German docs working in the UK (due to poor conditions for German hospitalists/residents) were quite satisfied with UK working conditions, incl. salary.

UK docs also get to retire at age 60 on 60% salary. Assuming that average UK doctor income is $120 K, (it is likely a bit more), this translates to $72K, True, it is not comparable to the six-figure retirements reported for some government workers in California.

However, it is not bad. Moreover, UK docs can work two days a week to make up the difference..