Thailand’s state hospitals are being hard hit by a shortage of medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, dentists, radiologists and other personnel. Some current staff are overloaded, forcing doctors in at least nine hospitals to work more than 64 hours a week.
According to the Medical Council, there are 50,000-60,000 doctors working in Thailand. Of these, 24,600 work in state hospitals and are responsible for 45 million Thais covered by the universal health care system, or 70 % of Thailand’s population. Most doctors are concentrated in Bangkok.
Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin, deputy permanent secretary for public health, said today (Tuesday) that the Ministry of Science, Research and Innovations has set a target for Thai universities to produce 3,000 new doctors each year until 2027, plus an additional 10,000 doctors to be produced by the Ministry of Public Health.
He said it is estimated, however, that only about 2,700 doctors can be produced each year, as some will not graduate as scheduled.
Each medical student has to study for six years, plus one year as an intern, said Thaweesin, adding, however, that the Medical Council recently required another year for the young doctors to gain more experience.
Since the interns are required to teach medical students, in addition to their work in state hospitals, he said they are facing work overload.
Doctors at nine state hospitals work more than 64 hours a week, compared to the standard 40 hours, more than 52 hours a week in 11 hospitals and more than 50 hours per week in four hospitals.
He said that the Ministry of Public Health has been trying to reduce the workloads of doctors and other medical staff, but without much success due to the shortage of manpower, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the past three years, over 450 doctors have resigned from state hospitals, many of them moving to work in private hospitals, which are less taxing and offer better compensation. Another 200 doctors have retired, according to Dr. Taweesin.
Poor housing facilities for doctors working in the provinces have been cited as another reason for young doctors leaving state hospitals after having worked there for just a few years to fulfil their commitment.
