THAILAND
A Thai doctors group has warned that the Government’s decision not to give Public Service status to new doctors and dentists after 2021 poses a threat to the country’s healthcare sector.
President of the Rural Doctors Society (RDS), Dr Kriengsak Vacharanukulkieti said the policy would have a domino effect, affecting the universal healthcare scheme provided via public hospitals.
At present, graduates from state-run medical schools are automatically recruited to state hospitals and become PS employees.
They are then assigned to areas of need across the country.
Dr Kriengsak said that status was the only thing that attracted doctors and other healthcare workers to work in the public sector.
“If you take this away, small hospitals will face a shortage of doctors as most doctors will decide to stay in developed towns,” Dr Kriengsak said.
“They will prefer to live comfortably in town and work for private hospitals that pay better.”
Dean of the Mahidol University Faculty of Medicine, Dr Prasit Watanapa said most doctors dispatched to the Provinces during a mandatory three-year service in the public sector chose to continue working there to help the locals.
“While working in rural areas, they are also at peace that their parents will enjoy good healthcare if the need arises,” Dr Prasit said.
“The Government healthcare benefit offered to Civil Servants and their families is one of the best in the country, so if that is gone there will be an impact.”
Bangkok, 25 April 2019
