Thailand's Health Minister Faces Head-On Clashes Over P4P

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Minister faces head-on clashes over P4P
P4P Puangchumpoo Prasert
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong has been on a hot seat since his ministry introduced the Pay-for-Performance (P4P) concept for its medical staff.

The scheme is getting full support from medical workers who work in cities and towns, as they stand to enjoy better pay for the workload they shoulder. But those working in rural areas are against it, saying many of their colleagues will be lured to work in urban hospitals.

The Rural Doctor Society, a powerful group of up-country medical workers, staged a protest against the new pay scheme on Tuesday and threatened to rally every Tuesday until the public health minister steps down.

Dr Kriengsak Watcharanukulkiat, chairman of the society, said the Pay-for-Performance scheme would ruin the country's public-health system, adding that it was necessary to retain medical workers and specialists in rural areas for the sake of local residents.

It is no secret that Pradit was assigned by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to reform the Public Health Ministry in order to curb rising medical costs and to deal with its many independent agencies, such as the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, the National Health Security Office and the National Health Commission. Former students of respected medical professors, like Prawase Wasi and Vichai Chokevivat, run these agencies.

As part of the reform, the government will set up the National Health Authority, which will be chaired by the prime minister and have ministers as members, and become the policy-making agency on public health.

Observers see this move as an attempt to weaken or even dissolve the independent agencies under the Public Health Ministry. However, the public health minister rejected such claims, saying he had no power to dissolve agencies that had been established under the law, adding that the goal was simply to bring them all together under the NHA to ensure unity.

Pradit has close connections with Yingluck and her sister Yaowapa Wongsawat - a powerful figure in the ruling Pheu Thai Party. He also enjoys good ties with businesses close to certain politicians in power and some private hospitals.

The public health minister's latest move has put him on a collision course with the Rural Doctor Society, which has enjoyed a strong bargaining power in the Public Health Ministry. Nonetheless, Pradit has vowed to complete his reform mission within seven months, even if he "gets hurt" in the process.

His collision with the Rural Doctors Society is just the first round. If he goes ahead with his reform plans, he will certainly clash head-on with the more powerful independent agencies in the ministry and end up putting his ministerial seat at stake.


-- The Nation 2013-03-28

[Chrisswe]

Please send that Helth Minister to Pattaya and check air pollution, it's worst than ever !!

[backtonormal]

Education will be next..teachers watch out. Breaking up institutions who have traditionally bussed retired workers to pro PAD Rallys.

[Locationthailand]

Education will be next..teachers watch out. Breaking up institutions who have traditionally bussed retired workers to pro PAD Rallys.

Ha ha - yes, pay per student passed - that should be fairly straight forward - they do that already with no heed of educational expertise. Let's hope they don't start churning out doctors by pass marks and attendance to lectures only!!!

[waza]

How does the PTP plan to stay in power when they keep implementing such poorly thought out and unpopular policies?

[slapout]

What better way to start down another road to failure.

Establish a new group, chaired by the PM, with membership of the cabinet, to declare policy for a profession of which they have as much knowledge as they have on the other aspects of running a business/country.

With the responsibilities of the PM (self proclaimed) the cabinet members (assigned) and their perchance to miss meeting, travel abroad at critial times, dictate results, with no suggestion of how to get there, I can hardly wait to see results.

[nevets]

I thought it was paying for something ells.

[khunken]

Quote:

As part of the reform, the government will set up the National Health
Authority, which will be chaired by the prime minister and have
ministers as members, and become the policy-making agency on public
health.

Translation: We want to take control so that we can skim more money & remove awkward experts.

[EyesWideOpen]

Hahaha generally P4P usage is in the sex trade, as in pay for play...

Ok you guys get back to serious discussion.....

[Dap]

Education will be next..teachers watch out. Breaking up institutions who have traditionally bussed retired workers to pro PAD Rallys.

Ha ha - yes, pay per student passed - that should be fairly straight forward - they do that already with no heed of educational expertise. Let's hope they don't start churning out doctors by pass marks and attendance to lectures only!!!

I think, Too late.