Finding A Job In The Health Sector

[LolaSamui]

I'm wondering if anybody has any tips on how to find a job in the health sector in Thailand? I am a health sciences graduate - not a qualified doctor.

Any advice would be gratefully received. I know this post is fairly vague and any ideas on the types of roles I could look for would be welcome too!

Thanks in advance.

[Sheryl]

I can't comment on roles without knowing what exactly your major was and what experience you have.

The pickings are going to be quite slim in Thailand, you have to compete with a large pool of well trained Thai health professionals -- who unlike you, do not require a work permit which is a significant burden for the employer to obtain -- so it's not going to be easy, especially if you do not have directly relevant experience. The only possibilities that come to mind are:

International relations office of one of the big international hospitals

Western NGOs active in the refugee camps on the Burmese border

International organizations with regional offices based in Bangkok

All of the above prefer to hire Thais except for positions that require a skill set hard to come by here, usually those would be very senior positions with stiff requirements.

[LolaSamui]

Thanks for your reply. I'll definitely look into the suggestion of working in a large international hospital.

My experience is in the voluntary sector, working for a heath charity.

At the moment I'm looking at either teaching a health related subject at a school or a management position in a healthcare setting.

Again, other suggestions would be gratefully received.

[tim armstrong]

Thanks for your reply. I'll definitely look into the suggestion of working in a large international hospital.

My experience is in the voluntary sector, working for a heath charity.

At the moment I'm looking at either teaching a health related subject at a school or a management position in a healthcare setting.

Again, other suggestions would be gratefully received.

Hi Lola,

Sometimes the local and regional universities may have P/T or guest jobs teaching health subjects to nurses and social science students that are not so well supported by the health system itself. ie. community health systems, health and farm safety (using chemicals), public health and epidemiology, health education. They will often manage work permit and visa issues, although its become harder for them in the last 2 years to take on expats.

But I would also look at areas where the Thai system is clearly not well resourced eg. developmental disability, epilepsy, mental health, and contact relevant gov't authorities. But I am assuming you can speak Thai? If not you are fairly confined to the UN and NGO agencies in Bangkok or the Myanmar border as Sheryl suggests. Find out about regional conferences run by WHO and others that you could go to, you may get some leads there.

With regard to Health development agencies, they usually have an abundant supply of well qualified Aid workers. The larger projects contract in consultants for varying periods between 1 month and 3 years. They are well paid, and often contracted at the beginning of a project in the donors' home country. But, many agencies and projects have a shortage of good project managers, monitoring and evaluation specialists, and report writers.

When you do contact the UN agencies, larger NGOs, and gov't bilateral aid projects, don't be put off by the development jargon and the bureaucracy. Also have a look at the AUSAID and USAID websites as well as Asian Development Bank site and WHO,UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF,to get a feel for the main health related issues. In Thailand these are at present: HIV/AIDS; human, and drug trafficking; vector borne diseases and maternal and child health. Lastly Google international development jobs in health. Try www.devnet.org or Red R recruitment. Other agencies to try are IOM, CARITAS, MERLIN - the list is long. Finally, for development work make sure you have a good CV. - no more than 3 pages. Good luck with your search.

[wasabi]

As others have indicated health is one sector where there are plenty of well qualified Thai's already fitting the bill. I've never seen a Farang in any health services capacity though somewhere one must exist.

[aussiebebe]

At the moment I'm looking at either teaching a health related subject at a school or a management position in a healthcare setting.

I see Fitness First always advertising for instructors, if that counts as teaching, but it's only for Thai nationals - you didn't mention whether you are Thai or can speak Thai. You may find a niche catering for expats in a hotel fitness centre or similar, however there are lots of bilingual Thai's to compete with - and they will work for significantly less I'd imagine!

My only other suggestion is teaching PE/gym/games at an International school (shudder) although a BSc in Health Science may not, on it's own, qualify you for such a position! Good Luck

[LolaSamui]

That idea really is shudder inducing. It has been suggested by someone else too. I couldn't possibly teach PE with a straight face knowing that I bunked every lesson myself as a teenager.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I don't speak Thai for the record.