Thai Health Minister Must Go: 600 Rural Doctors

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Health minister must go: 600 rural doctors
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Over 600 rural doctors nationwide are demanding that the government revoke the Cabinet resolution that forces state hospitals to pay allowances based on performance and that the Pheu Thai Party remove Pradit Sinthawanarong as public health minister.

"We feel neglected by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra as she listened only to one side. There are many medical workers who disagree with the Public Health Ministry's implementation of the new medical salary system. That's why we have to ask Pheu Thai executives to oust Pradit from his ministerial post," Dr Kriangsak Watcharanukulkiat, president of the Rural Doctors Society, said yesterday.

The move came after rural doctors learnt that the Cabinet resolution on March 31, which backed the Public Health Ministry's new medical salary system, had cut their monthly income.

The allowance used to be based on job location and number of years worked.

Since the new medical salary system took effect on April 1, the allowance is based on output. An exception is made for those working in remote areas such as the three southernmost provinces. They will receive an allowance based on location, job seniority and output.

The new medical salary system has reduced allowances and they are now not enough to encourage doctors to work in outlying areas.

Already 151 doctors have resigned from rural hospitals and moved back into town to work.

About 600 rural doctors dressed in black were meeting at Asia Hotel to consider ways to respond to the ministry's measure.

They vowed to strongly protest against the ministry by putting up billboards opposing the pay for performance (P4P) principle, dissemi?nating information and explaining to the public their reason for defying the ministry.

However, eight medical professional organisations issued a statement supporting P4P, saying it is fair for those working hard to provide medical treatment to patients.

The organisations were the Medical Council of Thailand, Medical Association of Thailand, Consortium of Medical Specialties Training Institutions of Thailand, Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council, Nurses Association of Thailand, Dental Council, Pharmacy Council of Thailand and Medical Technology Council.

Pradit met with a group of lecturers from medical schools who asked him to review his plan and explained to him the negative impacts on the healthcare system from P4P.

"The ministry should rescind this method as it does not focus on quality improvement of medical services," said Thongchai Vachirarojpisan of Chulalongkorn University's Dentistry Faculty.

Pradit asked them not to drag politics into this issue.

"It would be better if you spent more time taking care of patients," he said.

They had collected at least 10,000 signatures of rural doctors and medical workers to submit to the Senate speaker seeking to impeach the minister.

However, the Provincial Hospital Network also gathered 28,000 signatures of doctors and medical workers at provincial hospitals to back Pradit. The minister said he would talk with representatives of the Rural Doctors Society to find a way to end the standoff over the issue.


-- The Nation 2013-04-10

[sscsamui]

Spend some of the 2 trillion Baht Budget towards the Doctors that are out there helping the Non rich Thai's

[Mampara]

The real problem is that many in this government think they can do what they like, when they like, and how they like, without doing any proper investigation nor consulting the people who put them into power in the first place, servants who think they can rule - pitting us against each other for their own gain at our expense.

[Pib]

To me it seems doctors have been making a pretty good case (making a lot of noise the govt don't like hearing) for their cause over the last week or so. I bet the govt reverses its decision soon...or should I say modify their position to where they reinstate the rural allowance while also keeping the new P4P. In reinstating the allowance they may try to rename it in smoke-and-mirrors to make it appear they are not reinstating it but just modifying the P4P scheme for select locations.

[siampolee]

The trouble is that the Health Minister cannot go yet due to the fact he hasn't had his snout in the trough long enough to actually recoup his initial investment nor as yet to arrange the ongoing commission payments to his assorted minions and of course his puppet paymaster too in his current ministerial cashpiont position.

[FNQ]

Spend some of the 2 trillion Baht Budget towards the Doctors that are out there helping the Non rich Thai's

I agree, how sad for the poorer country folk.

[lungmi]

Don't worry, the Unhealth Minister will guarantee the funeral fees.

[MikeOboe57]

Divide et Impera - Divide and Conquer (or Rule).

It is funny to see those 8 organizations supporting the Government decision. They don't know yet that their members will be next to face the axe. Then they might wish to have the rural doctors' support.

"It would be better if you spent more time taking care of patients,"

What an arrogant dumbass statement. But with your plans they will have to do that to make up for the reduction in payment.

[Robby nz]

Have read all the posts on this topic and am still wondering what this performance is?

Is it the number of patients a doctor sees, treats, or the number of lives saved by that treatment or what?

If it is the number of patients seen then surely a GP would see more than a specialist, surgeon for instance.

And who makes the decisions?

[livinthailandos]

This move regarding doctors seems pretty far down as one can go. The only losers here will be the people of this country

Sent from my using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Greer]

Yes the government (that's the people voted for by the country folk because they will look after the "little man"), seems intent on destroying whatever they touch... "Passion Fingers" its called in Oz "Whatever they touch, they XXXX".

Anyway, its a good thing that the government is looking after all the people up country, because the way said government is "looking after" them, the country folk may soon realise what the rest of us already know...

Edited April 10, 2013 by metisdead
Profanity

[MikeOboe57]

Have read all the posts on this topic and am still wondering what this performance is?

Is it the number of patients a doctor sees, treats, or the number of lives saved by that treatment or what?

If it is the number of patients seen then surely a GP would see more than a specialist, surgeon for instance.

And who makes the decisions?

It is fairly simple. The more time a doctor spends on a patient the less money he gets.

[h90]

Spend some of the 2 trillion Baht Budget towards the Doctors that are out there helping the Non rich Thai's

Way too difficult, how would you handle the money back flow? Every Doctor comes to Bangkok and gives him 2000 Baht kickback?

You need big projects to make the corruption simple not rural doctors. And corruption is the reason why someone becomes Minister.

[ZhouZhou]

They had collected at least 10,000 signatures of rural doctors and medical workers to submit to the Senate speaker seeking to impeach the minister.

However, the Provincial Hospital Network also gathered 28,000 signatures of doctors and medical workers at provincial hospitals to back Pradit.

with every new policy you cannot make everyone happy.

but looks like the new system has the support of the majority of doctors and medical staff.

[Thai at Heart]

Divide et Impera - Divide and Conquer (or Rule).

It is funny to see those 8 organizations supporting the Government decision. They don't know yet that their members will be next to face the axe. Then they might wish to have the rural doctors' support.

"It would be better if you spent more time taking care of patients,"

What an arrogant dumbass statement. But with your plans they will have to do that to make up for the reduction in payment.

Amazing that there are 8 different groups representing doctors. Seems that they are more than happy to divide themselves.

Why is a rural doctor less represented than a city doctor in these negotiations.

[Chao Lao Beach]

Anyone know the outcome of this ?