301 Million Baht To Be Spent To Add Additional 300 Doctors This Year

The Public Health Ministry will use 301 million baht to bring in more doctors this year

The Public Health Ministry will spend 301 million baht on the production of 300 medical doctors this year.

Caretaker Public Health Minister Pinit Charusombat (พินิจ จารุสมบัติ) said the investment is part of a mega-health project which targets to produce 3,000 doctors between 2006 and 2009 to cope with a severe lack of health personnel. The ratio of doctor to population in Thailand is now 1: 2,350, Mr. Pinit said.

He said the ministry will select candidates in rural areas and send them to medical schools. These students will have to return to work in their provinces after graduation to solve the shortage of doctors in rural villages, the minister said.

Mr. Pinit said the time new medical graduates have to work for the state will be extended from 3 to 6 years, and in case they want to leave before that they have to pay the state 1.8 million baht instead of the present rate of 400,000 baht.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 June 2006