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Special Report: Thailand Ready To Become Asean Medical Hub

Lite Beer

By Lite Beer
in Thailand News

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Lite Beer Legendary Member

Lite Beer

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Special Report: Thailand ready to become ASEAN medical hub

One of Thailand’s goals when ASEAN community is formed is to make Thailand the “medical hub” of its region. But there seems to be a major concern in doing so. That is labor transfer, which could be a holdback for the country’s medical industry.

Thailand fears that when the ASEAN community is finally introduced, skilled medical practitioners and specialists will move to those countries where pay rates are higher, which will be the obstacle to the country's success in becoming the medical hub.

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However, according to Medical Council of Thailand President Dr. Somsak Lolekha, labor transfer in the healthcare industry, the so-called brain drain, is very unlikely due to a number of factors not conducive to the move, especially the Mutual Recognition Agreement or MRA, which specifically states that those who want to work in another country in the medical field will have to have at least 5 years of experience. The president said the agreement would rule out those new graduates.

He further stated that countries with high pay rates like Singapore and Malaysia also have strict rules on hiring foreign specialists; besides, Malaysia in particular does not accept Thailand’s medical courses and curriculum, while Singapore has limited employment opportunities for specialists and practitioners.

Meanwhile, those countries which offer lower pay rates than Thailand, like Indonesia and Cambodia, require foreign doctors to take medical exams in their languages, which will make it a lot harder for Thai doctors to go to those countries.

However, the president of the Medical Council of Thailand fears it will be the other way around. Instead of Thai elites going out, overseas doctors will be looking to come in as Malaysians are now learning the Thai language.

He also expressed his confidence that Thailand has the potential to be the medical hub of ASEAN region, as it is ready in terms of technological advancement, plus Thailand has far more medical specialists than any other countries in this region. However, a number of issues need to be addressed in order to improve the country’s medical industry.

The first issue is that Thailand needs to hurriedly revise its laws on temporary medical licenses to allow foreign doctors to come in and educate Thai doctors. The best way to bring in foreign specialists is to get the private sector involved in the process, so that it does not cost the government an arm and a leg.

The second thing that the government needs to do is to push for English program in medical education as Thai students are far behind other countries in terms of the command of the English language.

Lastly, he said transferring patients from one place to another has to be more effective given advancement in medication would not matter if a patient died on his way to hospital.

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lovetotravel Gold Member

lovetotravel

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The first issue is that Thailand needs to hurriedly revise its laws on temporary medical licenses to allow foreign doctors to come in and educate Thai doctors. The best way to bring in foreign specialists is to get the private sector involved in the process, so that it does not cost the government an arm and a leg.

The second thing that the government needs to do is to push for English program in medical education as Thai students are far behind other countries in terms of the command of the English language.

Now this is scary. I'd hazard a guess that most medical advances are described in English. And here they are saying Thai students are behind in English?

If they don't understand English, how could they bring in foreign specialists for training?

Scary.

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tomyummer Gold Member

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This is ridiculous. 5-years ago I was asked to organize a meeting of private hospitals with the TAT to begin planning Thailand as a 'medical hub'. Days before this historic meeting it was called off, because the Ministry of Tourism and Sports which also sits above the TAT decided that in conjunction with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Thailand will be branded as the 'Spa Hub' of the world.

The Spa associations with MoPH was trying to get their own ISO rating and the trademark for Thai massage. The MoPH didn't get the fact that many of the alternative medical and spa treatments were still not accepted by the international medical community such as colonic cleansing and chiropractic treatments, yet they still wanted this idiotic endeavor. MoPH also said they couldn't promote global healthcare because it did not benefit domestic care. The best doctors and nurses would only move to the private sector. Ridiculous and closed minded. It was presented to them that global healthcare would only boost the levels of care and bring more revenue for the country.

The last thing that Thailand has to worry about is doctors fleeing to other countries or foreign doctors coming in. Thailand still has the best environment to be the medical hub. It's the uneducated and close minded idiots running the ministries, departments, and agencies that should be worried about.

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Bagwan Ruby Member

Bagwan

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The first issue is that Thailand needs to hurriedly revise its laws on temporary medical licenses to allow foreign doctors to come in and educate Thai doctors. The best way to bring in foreign specialists is to get the private sector involved in the process, so that it does not cost the government an arm and a leg.

So it is expected that those doctors with enhanced knowledge will move on into the Government hospital sector? What nonsense. What is more probable is that the privates (pun intended) will up their charges and probably heap on a few more unnecessary procedures and medications to treatments.

As for costing the Government an arm and a leg that is something I'd like to see. I assume the phu yais will go overseas for their operations. Thailand, the hub of physically challenged politicians and Civil Servants?

Edited by Bagwan
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Morakot Platinum Member

Morakot

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Is it like a hub airport, where people arrive and try to get to their destination hospital as quickly as possible? Thailand expert in triage: "Yes Madam we can transfer you to a nice hospital in Singapore or we also have a bed for you in a clinic in Sydney!"

Edited by Morakot
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culicine Platinum Member

culicine

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The first issue is that Thailand needs to hurriedly revise its laws on temporary medical licenses to allow foreign doctors to come in and educate Thai doctors. The best way to bring in foreign specialists is to get the private sector involved in the process, so that it does not cost the government an arm and a leg.

The second thing that the government needs to do is to push for English program in medical education as Thai students are far behind other countries in terms of the command of the English language.

Now this is scary. I'd hazard a guess that most medical advances are described in English. And here they are saying Thai students are behind in English?

If they don't understand English, how could they bring in foreign specialists for training?

Scary.

My student just showed me some of his books for his medical degree. Guess what....they are all in english:) I can't imagine how well some of his fellow students will cope. having only studied in Thai for 12 years. Same goes for a Pharmacy student - her books were all english, even though her degree was from a Thai program.

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Fortunate1 Explorer Member

Fortunate1

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I can't help thinking that Burma will become the hub of Asean. It has a long border with China on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other.

With their fixed mindset, inflexibility and sense of superiority over its neighbours Thailand may be in danger of becoming the hub of dissappointment, the hub of delusion, the hub-a-go-go.

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Lingba Silver Member

Lingba

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I'd like to know who comes up with this "Hub" phrase?...is it a dept. of the gov't that continuously uses it to glorigy their new findings or is it the media writers?...Man oh man, talk about burn out..not to mention deception and wishful thinking

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Pimay1 Platinum Member

Pimay1

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I'd like to know who comes up with this "Hub" phrase?...is it a dept. of the gov't that continuously uses it to glorigy their new findings or is it the media writers?...Man oh man, talk about burn out..not to mention deception and wishful thinking

I'm too lazy to do this but I would like for someone to do a little research and find out in the last fifteen years how many HUBs these people have declared. Must be thousands.
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keemapoot Gold Member

keemapoot

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Let all of us posters, assume this IS the hub of all, and only report when it is NOT.

Good one. I propose a sign at immigration at the airport that states: "Notice: you are entering the hub of all things imaginable unless explicitly stated otherwise. Please be advised."

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Lingba Silver Member

Lingba

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I'd like to know who comes up with this "Hub" phrase?...is it a dept. of the gov't that continuously uses it to glorigy their new findings or is it the media writers?...Man oh man, talk about burn out..not to mention deception and wishful thinking

I'm too lazy to do this but I would like for someone to do a little research and find out in the last fifteen years how many HUBs these people have declared. Must be thousands.

Go to the search...as I did at the top of the homepage and type in "Hub"....you'll get your answer if you have a few days to read it

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Pimay1 Platinum Member

Pimay1

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I'd like to know who comes up with this "Hub" phrase?...is it a dept. of the gov't that continuously uses it to glorigy their new findings or is it the media writers?...Man oh man, talk about burn out..not to mention deception and wishful thinking

I'm too lazy to do this but I would like for someone to do a little research and find out in the last fifteen years how many HUBs these people have declared. Must be thousands.

Go to the search...as I did at the top of the homepage and type in "Hub"....you'll get your answer if you have a few days to read it

Thanks I will do that.
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