Medical wages in Thailand

[georgegeorgia]

I'm just wondering how much a average doctor in a hospital would get in a salary ?

 

I'm thinking more Government hospitals?

 

What about psychiatrists in Thailand do they earn much?

[Nemises]

Starting salary for a doctor at a government hospital is around THB50-60K per month. 
 

Psychiatrists at a government hospital start a little higher than a doctor but at a private hospital earn anywhere between 120K - 300K….or more. 
 

 

Edited January 13 by Nemises

[scubascuba3]

Thailand needs more farang phycologists, counsellors etc, there's a job for you

[retarius]

8 minutes ago, Nemises said:

Starting salary for a doctor at a government hospital is around THB50,000 per month. 
 

 

Good money for Thailand. Do you know if doctors in private hospitals like Bumrungrad like get more or less than this? When I get a bill, I am always pleased that the cost of the doctor visit is usually very low. 

[Nemises]

19 minutes ago, retarius said:

 Do you know if doctors in private hospitals like Bumrungrad get 

They start between THB80K - 120K. 
 

 

Edited January 13 by Nemises

[retarius]

So approx 3000 pounds a month? Not bad I suppose, but not enough for a good lifestyle in Bangkok.  

[mikebike]

8 minutes ago, retarius said:

So approx 3000 pounds a month? Not bad I suppose, but not enough for a good lifestyle in Bangkok.  

Drs rarely only work in one hospital. Usually more than one + clinic(s). The salaries quoted are starting points. 

[brianthainess]

You are now a hospital cleaner, and told us it takes 4 yrs of training to get  psychiatrist degree. 

It then takes 4yrs to finish medical school, and another 4yrs to complete a residency. 12yrs all up.

I think you need help.

[brianthainess]

On 1/13/2024 at 12:36 PM, scubascuba3 said:

Thailand needs more farang phycologists, counsellors etc, there's a job for you

I think you have to qualify first, in fact training to be a psychiatrist is extremely long process of 12+ years.

 

[gomangosteen]

A common misunderstanding between psychiatry and psychology.

 

A psychiatrist is firstly a medical practitioner (doctor) completing 5-6 years medical studies, internship, two years as a Junior House Officer satisfactorily completing 8 three month placements in a mix of surgical and medical runs (eg paediatrics, ED, O&G, surgery, psych, etc).

 

Followed by 1-2 years as a Senior House Officer six month placements (often longer), then becoming a Registrar which leads towards their chosen specialist career path.

 

In the case of Psychiatry - application and acceptance and a further five year training program. Application is a competitive process for all specialties some registrar's miss out year after year.

 

In my exp few doctors do this without taking a significant break, 6-12 months taken as leave without pay is common as there's limited opportunity to take any lengthy holiday especially during those three month placements where there are minimum attendance days towards gaining a pass.

 

So the first step for OP is attaining high enough quals to apply for highly competitive medical school acceptance. 

 

As if!

Edited January 15 by gomangosteen

[NextG]

26 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

I think you have to qualify first, in fact training to be a psychiatrist is extremely long process of 12+ years.

 

A Psychologist is not a Psychiatrist…

[brianthainess]

2 minutes ago, NextG said:

A Psychologist is not a Psychiatrist…

Thanks my bad.

[brianthainess]

5 minutes ago, NextG said:

A Psychologist is not a Psychiatrist…

It is still the same training apparently

[gomangosteen]

7 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

It is still the same training apparently

No. A psychologist is not a medical doctor.

A doctorate degree is an academic degree, not a medical degree.

 

The three main differences between psychiatrists and psychologists are:

 

Psychiatrists are medical doctors, psychologists are not.

 

Psychiatrists prescribe medication, psychologists can't.

 

Psychiatrists diagnose illness, manager treatment and provide a range of therapies for complex and serious mental illness. 

Psychologists focus on providing psychotherapy (talk therapy) to help patients.

 

Many people get psychiatrists and psychologists confused with each other.

Edited January 15 by gomangosteen

[Photoguy21]

On 1/13/2024 at 12:36 PM, scubascuba3 said:

Thailand needs more farang phycologists, counsellors etc, there's a job for you

In order for a foreign doctor to practice medicine in Thailand, from what a doctor has told me, is that they have to pass the medical exam in the Thai language. This may not be correct but that is what a doctor told me.

[FritsSikkink]

On 1/13/2024 at 12:41 PM, retarius said:

Good money for Thailand. Do you know if doctors in private hospitals like Bumrungrad like get more or less than this? When I get a bill, I am always pleased that the cost of the doctor visit is usually very low. 

Not good money at all, there are jobs that pay way more. Private hospitals pay more.

[gomangosteen]

On 1/13/2024 at 12:36 PM, scubascuba3 said:

Thailand needs more farang phycologists, counsellors etc, there's a job for you

Phycology is the study of algae.

 

Gaining a degree in algae may be an option to OP, but whether Thailand needs another phycologist is another matter. 

 

Phycology, the study of algae, a large heterogeneous group of chiefly aquatic plants ranging in size from microscopic forms to species as large as shrubs or trees. The discipline is of immediate interest to humans because of algae's importance in ecology.

 

 

[retarius]

16 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Not good money at all, there are jobs that pay way more. Private hospitals pay more.

If you read my post, it is a question about private hospitals. Can you read?

[FritsSikkink]

2 minutes ago, retarius said:

If you read my post, it is a question about private hospitals. Can you read?

"Do you know if doctors in private hospitals like Bumrungrad like get more or less than this?" 

Answer: Private hospitals pay more.

 

Can you read and how is your memory?

[foreverlomsak]

1 hour ago, FritsSikkink said:

Not good money at all, there are jobs that pay way more. Private hospitals pay more.

Many doctors work for 2 hospitals, say State in the morning, then Private in the afternoon, some have private clinics as well.

 

[azt219]

2 hours ago, Photoguy21 said:

In order for a foreign doctor to practice medicine in Thailand, from what a doctor has told me, is that they have to pass the medical exam in the Thai language. This may not be correct but that is what a doctor told me.

 

This is correct, barring a few exceptions

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, Photoguy21 said:

In order for a foreign doctor to practice medicine in Thailand, from what a doctor has told me, is that they have to pass the medical exam in the Thai language. This may not be correct but that is what a doctor told me.

Not just foreign doctors, also applies to Thais.

My niece couldn't get a place at a Thai uni, everyone wants to try and be a doctor. She went to China and did a 6 year English speaking course for her degree, also had to be fluent in Chinese before the 5th year.

On returning to Thailand she had to do the last year again as an intern at a Thai hospital before sitting the Thai medical exams. Unfortunately  that happened during covid and exams kept getting postponed, took over 8 years to get the licence.

[Photoguy21]

5 hours ago, azt219 said:

 

This is correct, barring a few exceptions

Thanks for confirming my understanding

[Photoguy21]

4 hours ago, sandyf said:

Not just foreign doctors, also applies to Thais.

My niece couldn't get a place at a Thai uni, everyone wants to try and be a doctor. She went to China and did a 6 year English speaking course for her degree, also had to be fluent in Chinese before the 5th year.

On returning to Thailand she had to do the last year again as an intern at a Thai hospital before sitting the Thai medical exams. Unfortunately  that happened during covid and exams kept getting postponed, took over 8 years to get the licence.

Dont you think a Thai would have to pass their exams in the Thai language? Would sound normal to me.

[Dickp]

My daughter has a Phd in counselling  phycologisty. Read, writes and speaks Thai, she was raise in Bangkok for 12 years RIS school. Then off to the USA for her BA child development phycology, 2 MS  one in research and the other in applied phycology and Phd in counselling phycology. Took 10 yrears Plus 1 year internship at the same time she was finshing last grad study's. She pasted her USA licensing test for all 50 state licensings, and is licensed for Washington and Oregon. Every year comes home for a month and every year and she is asked by major private hospitals like Bumrungrad and Bangkok General move here to work. Saddly she can't her pay is much more in the USA and because her husband job is much more rewarding both in money and path way to the top in his company. Maybe once they retire they may move here. In the USA she does diagnose illness, manager treatment and provide a range of therapies for complex and serious mental illness. The only thing she can not due is prescribe medication, but she can and does recommend to the doctors medication for her patient's.

[edwarda909]

12 hours ago, brianthainess said:

It is still the same training apparently

I am a semi-retired US doctor (active license)- living in Thailand  working in America  about 3 months every year.   4 years undergraduate university degree, 4 years of medical school  consisting of 2 years didactics then 2 years clinical rotations, then 1 year internship- Ob/gyn, surgery, internal medicine (pulmonology, gastroenterology), emergency medicine, internal medicine, hematology/oncology, family practice, neurology, then 3 years psychiatry residency. Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Total 12 years following high school.

[Paris333]

Are doctors paid by electronic payments or are they paid in cash tax-free? Dilemma? 

[sandyf]

21 hours ago, Photoguy21 said:

Dont you think a Thai would have to pass their exams in the Thai language? Would sound normal to me.

You missed the point, when she came back to Thailand with her medical degree she was effectively a foreigner. The exams being in her native language was superflous.

[Ralf001]

On 1/15/2024 at 11:01 PM, Paris333 said:

Are doctors paid by electronic payments or are they paid in cash tax-free? Dilemma? 

 

current currency hotness in tax dodging wage payments is white crusty dog turds.

[azt219]

21 hours ago, sandyf said:

You missed the point, when she came back to Thailand with her medical degree she was effectively a foreigner. The exams being in her native language was superflous.

 

I mean, a better way to put it is simply, if you want to practice as a doctor in thailand you need to take and pass the Thai medical lisencsing exams.  Doesn't matter where you're from passport-wise, or what medical schools.  Everyone takes the Thai ML,  Thai's from Thai medical schools, forginers from foreign medical schools, thai's from forgien medical schools etc.  

 

It's the same as the US with USMLE, you need to pass the USMLE to practice working in the states.  You can simply call the thai one TMLE.  

 

Also the TMLE, 2 of the exams are in English, and the last one is in Thai (some parts).

Edited January 17 by azt219