I'm posting this in the Pattaya forum as it's specific to our fair city, rather than to general health and well-being in Thailand.

The background is given here:

I saw Dr. Anna this morning for routine six-monthly cryotherapy and she confirmed that she will retire at the end of August and then go to see her daughter who works at Stanford. As already mentioned in the topic, it's not her decision and has been forced on her by Bangkok Hospital. It seems all the e-mails of support we sent the hospital asking for them to reconsider their decision were blithely ignored. She mentioned that she's not alone and a number of older doctors are being forced out too. I asked her for a recommendation to replace her but she said she's not allowed to say anything. She also said something about there being "many new, young doctors starting work", but that's the last thing we need, I think at least in medical matters most of us prefer age and experience over youth and enthusiasm.

So that's it, the end of an era for some of us. If you want a last review of your skin or a cryotherapy treatment with Dr. Anna, then you've got a bit over a month left to do so.

At what age are they generally being forced out?

With such a large population and so many foreigners living here and so many tourists coming for medical tourism, they are pushing doctors out?

There is an abundance of young Doctors in the pipeline waiting for jobs that are not available due to the older Doctors. They are getting little to no experience because of this situation. My personal experience here is when a younger Doctor does come in they seem clueless in some regard. I do not like seeing a Doctor and have them responding with " Oh, I don't know".

Possible lack of training, education and willing mentorship.

27 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

At what age are they generally being forced out?

With such a large population and so many foreigners living here and so many tourists coming for medical tourism, they are pushing doctors out?

I don't know her age, but it's a matter of record that she graduated with a medical degree from Chula in 1973. She's clearly not young.

Nothing stops a physician from working at a private clinic.

8 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

I do not like seeing a Doctor and have them responding with " Oh, I don't know".

I would much rather a doctor tell me they don't know than to make something up or take a guess. Many doctors will get all the details then research the issue to ensure they are able to find not only the most accurate information, but the most up-to-date information. Something they learned 30 years ago in school has a pretty good chance of not being relevant anymore.

Aren't doctors in Thailand permitted to offer private consultations? For instance, if I have a minor cough, must I visit a hospital to consult a doctor?

age and experience over youth and enthusiasm

You're shocked in a country that condones, endorses and legally allows age discrimination against workers over 35 would discriminate against people over 35?

Try to get a job teaching English on the phone.

First question: How old you?

You: 65.

[Click]

Edited July 23Jul 23 by SiSePuede419
Heavily accented mangled English

Dr. Anna is nothing short of excellent. I've been her patient for 25

years; she has earned my utmost respect professionally and on a

personal level. She will be missed.

Edited July 23Jul 23 by Paul Dee
clarification

18 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

There is an abundance of young Doctors in the pipeline waiting for jobs that are not available due to the older Doctors. They are getting little to no experience because of this situation. My personal experience here is when a younger Doctor does come in they seem clueless in some regard.

I know a lot of places in the West that would be VERY happy to take on these young doctors (or even the older ones!).

Mind you, in my part of Canada, highly qualified doctors from all over the world are prevented from coming here because the older doctors have their "union" in every province which forces willing foreign (well-qualified) doctors go through a year of "qualification." Scandalous.

Maybe it’s about the mighty baht. Get rid of the old medical staff and employ the younger ones on a lower salary like

3 hours ago, ravip said:

Aren't doctors in Thailand permitted to offer private consultations? For instance, if I have a minor cough, must I visit a hospital to consult a doctor?

A lot of doctors working in hospitals have private clinics that open in the evening on weekdays and then on Sat morning.

18 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Nothing stops a physician from working at a private clinic.

Not much seems to stop people who aren't doctors working in a private clinic

I guess you can fly to Chiang Mai and see Dr. Vachraporn Sujaritwanichpong at Chiang Mai RAM. Excellent US trained doctor and easy on the eyes as well.

58 minutes ago, connda said:

Excellent US trained doctor and easy on the eyes as well.

So her photograph says but I've never seen her without her mask

On 7/22/2026 at 7:25 AM, save the frogs said:

At what age are they generally being forced out?

With such a large population and so many foreigners living here and so many tourists coming for medical tourism, they are pushing doctors out?

5 hours ago, Jack Hammer said:

Maybe it’s about the mighty baht. Get rid of the old medical staff and employ the younger ones on a lower salary like

It's Bahtist Thailand so probably ALL to do with not meeting sales targets etc..
Lower salaries no doubt also relevant.
Maybe not doing as the marketing clipboard crew tell them to.

16 minutes ago, Tourist2 said:

It's Bahtist Thailand so probably ALL to do with not meeting sales targets etc..

Yeah, like the West isn't all about money.

They may be concerned that they may no longer be as sharp after a certain age.

Or it has to do with making sure young doctors are employed.

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Yeah, like the West isn't all about money.

They may be concerned that they may no longer be as sharp after a certain age.

Or it has to do with making sure young doctors are employed.

Guys on here wouldn't make a point of flagging this particular situation if this doctor was crap.

West has rules (inc. health and safety) which are actually enforced.
Arguably foreigners are better looked after than the natives.

In Thailand Buddhism seems to be largely about praying for more money, death to enemies etc. hence 'Bahtism'.

On 7/22/2026 at 3:29 PM, bkk6060 said:

There is an abundance of young Doctors in the pipeline waiting for jobs that are not available due to the older Doctors. They are getting little to no experience because of this situation. My personal experience here is when a younger Doctor does come in they seem clueless in some regard. I do not like seeing a Doctor and have them responding with " Oh, I don't know".

Possible lack of training, education and willing mentorship.

This is sad but should be no surprise from 11my experience in Thailand.

Not the same but ever see any old folks at your 7/11, BigC,, Lotus, Swenson, discrimination has been going on for centuries here. You want to see old they selling food at the markets,

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Yeah, like the West isn't all about money.

They may be concerned that they may no longer be as sharp after a certain age.

Or it has to do with making sure young doctors are employed.

Yes, it is not only for doctors. I knew an excellent lawyer in Europe who continued to work well into his seventies in his own medium sized company together with some partners. But by law he was not longer allowed to sign anything without another lawyer countersigning.

19 hours ago, Jack Hammer said:

Maybe it’s about the mighty baht. Get rid of the old medical staff and employ the younger ones on a lower salary like

Yes, my thought was to make way for many newly qualified youngsters. All hungry for a new sports car!

On 7/22/2026 at 8:25 AM, save the frogs said:

At what age are they generally being forced out?

60

Whatever happened behind closed doors, being required to retire is very different from deciding freely that the time has come.

After more than fifty years in medicine, Dr Anna has clearly earned the gratitude and loyalty of many patients, particularly within Pattaya’s expatriate community. That is something she can look back on with pride, whatever the circumstances of her departure may have been.

Sometimes the closing of one long chapter creates the opportunity to begin another. One may leave behind the boats that once kept one afloat, but there is still the boat that carries one across the ocean towards family and whatever comes next.

I wish Dr Anna excellent health, peace of mind and many happy years with her family and friends. The gratitude expressed by so many patients is perhaps the clearest measure of what she has achieved.

What a loss - I found Dr Anna a decade ago thanks to Sheryl's recommendation. As an Australian, deep experience in sun-damaged skin (inc keratosis and cancer) is an imperative for me. Dr Anna has that in spades.

What are our options for the future [can't see the point in consulting a newbie doctor who likely knows less than me about skin cancers...]???

48 minutes ago, dinga said:

What are our options for the future [can't see the point in consulting a newbie doctor who likely knows less than me about skin cancers...]???

That's the $64 question. As I said, she was told by her bosses in the hospital not to give any recommendations for other doctors. A year or two ago, when Dr. Anna was on holiday, I saw another (young) lady dermatologist there and she was OK but didn't seem very confident of what she was doing (maybe just because I was a new patient to her, while I became quite friendly with Dr Anna over the years). I hope that people here like us who now need a good dermatologist who's highly experienced in sun damage will provide recommendations based on their new experiences.

23 hours ago, Tourist2 said:

It's Bahtist Thailand so probably ALL to do with not meeting sales targets etc..

You must have worked for a charity (or a very much bankrupt business) all your life if you think only Thailand is about making money.

5 hours ago, Guderian said:

she was told by her bosses in the hospital not to give any recommendations for other doctors.

yes

if she did

then they might fire her.!

Wait ...

On 7/23/2026 at 4:37 AM, Leopold Bloom said:

I know a lot of places in the West that would be VERY happy to take on these young doctors (or even the older ones!).

Mind you, in my part of Canada, highly qualified doctors from all over the world are prevented from coming here because the older doctors have their "union" in every province which forces willing foreign (well-qualified) doctors go through a year of "qualification." Scandalous.

B.C. eliminated dermatology from the MSP years ago.

Part of what you say about barriers to entry is true but I'd rather that than a Filipino or Indian witch doctor be admitted into the college. And that is neither a false dichotomy nor hyperbole.

On 7/23/2026 at 1:27 PM, nglodnig said:

So her photograph says but I've never seen her without her mask

Yes when some ladies do the big reveal and remove the mask it can be quite shocking, as i know from an angel at Big C Extra

23 hours ago, Guderian said:

As I said, she was told by her bosses in the hospital not to give any recommendations for other doctors.

I agree Dr. Anna is the best. She treated me for several years for skin conditions and cancer screenings.

About 6 years ago I had what I thought was a severe rash that the topical ointments I usually used were not doing any good. Since Dr Anna was working only half days on 2 days of the week, I made an appointment with Dr. Kittikun Rungrueng. The rash had become very painful and I couldn't wait 3 days to see Dr Anna.

Dr Kittikun is not a new doctor or young doctor. He has been in practice since graduating from medical school in 1995. He quickly diagnosed it as shingles (a nerve rather than skin condition) and prescribed effective treatment.

I have had no need to see a dermatologist until July 2024. I experienced sporadic moderate to severe itching in the area where I had shingles. I saw Dr, Kittikun again. He said it was after effects of shingles. He prescribed a lotion called Capsika75, which brought almost instant relief. Since I still have sporadic itching, I continue use Capsika75 to bring relief.

With Dr Anna leaving, I would recommend Dr Kittikun at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.