Public Health Ministry Admits Doctors Face Huge Workload

[webfact]

 

BANGKOK, June 7 (TNA) – The Public Health Ministry admitted doctors at nine hospitals under its administration experienced excessive workload at nine hospitals where they have to work 64 hours per week.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health, Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin and Dr. Pimpet Sukumalpaiboon, Director of the Collaborative Project to Increase Production of Rural Doctor (CPIRD) conceded that the public health ministry faces the shortage of doctors despite the attempt to produce more doctors to work in the ministry’s system.

 

Each year, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation produces 3,000 doctors a year and the Public Health Ministry produces about 1,000 doctors a year.

 

Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news/line-today-english-news-1185346

 

-- © Copyright Thai News Agency 2023-06-07

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

[ThailandRyan]

As the population grows, not only with Thais, but those here on work permits, as well as Expats, and then the migrant workers the hospitals and clinics have become very busy.  Yesterday I had an appointment at BNH hospital in BKK, and by noon the entire building was filled with people arriving or already there for appointments.  My appointment which was for 8:30 am did not happen until 9:30 am, and then the blood work which normally takes just an hour to have run took 3 hours.  This in itself indicates as the article (OP) indicates there is a need for additional providers.  One wonders why they do not hire foreign healthcare workers.  I have never seen anyone working as a nurse, a lab tech, or a physician who is not Thai.

[jonclark]

55 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

As the population grows, not only with Thais, but those here on work permits, as well as Expats, and then the migrant workers the hospitals and clinics have become very busy.  Yesterday I had an appointment at BNH hospital in BKK, and by noon the entire building was filled with people arriving or already there for appointments.  My appointment which was for 8:30 am did not happen until 9:30 am, and then the blood work which normally takes just an hour to have run took 3 hours.  This in itself indicates as the article (OP) indicates there is a need for additional providers.  One wonders why they do not hire foreign healthcare workers.  I have never seen anyone working as a nurse, a lab tech, or a physician who is not Thai.

I think it is the requirement that health care professionals need to be able to communicate in Thai (including reading and writing) to a high standard. I have only ever met 1 Dr. who was not Thai (American i think) and she was a professor attached to one of the large universities who worked as a consulatant / with Dr in training. 

 

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Each year, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation produces 3,000 doctors a year and the Public Health Ministry produces about 1,000 doctors a year.

So where do they all go?

Answer that and you're halfway to solving the problem

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

One wonders why they do not hire foreign healthcare workers.  I have never seen anyone working as a nurse, a lab tech, or a physician who is not Thai.

There is a way to solve the issue, but Thailands archaic protectionism regarding working in certain fields is hurting itself.

[Pib]

3 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

So where do they all go?

Answer that and you're halfway to solving the problem

Probably private practice in something like a cosmetic skin care clinic.

[ikke1959]

News with a lack of investigation. Most doctors have a private clinic where they see patients in the morning. After 9 o'clock to go to the hospital to see patients there and in the evening the doctors have their private clinics too, while in the hospitals there is almost no time to talk with a patient.. It is not that there is a big workload, it is that the doctors want to earn a lot of money which is nothing wrong with but it is their own choice. I think that if a specialist works in a hospital he /she could not do a private clinic at home. A change in the health care system could solve a lot of problems

[h90]

6 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

News with a lack of investigation. Most doctors have a private clinic where they see patients in the morning. After 9 o'clock to go to the hospital to see patients there and in the evening the doctors have their private clinics too, while in the hospitals there is almost no time to talk with a patient.. It is not that there is a big workload, it is that the doctors want to earn a lot of money which is nothing wrong with but it is their own choice. I think that if a specialist works in a hospital he /she could not do a private clinic at home. A change in the health care system could solve a lot of problems

And that 9 O'clock is not too exactly

[Gknrd]

I knew a couple of doctors in Thailand . They worked as little as possible at the government hospitals then went to their private clinics. 

[jcmj]

They know this when they decided to become a doctor. It’s not a secret. It’s like getting into restaurant management and expecting to only work 50 hours a week. It rarely happens, and if you decide to consult at other places to make extra income, what do you expect? Some doctors in the private hospitals only work when they have to, and others work more, and all over the place. It’s their choice. 

[Pink Mist]

A troll post has been removed