Thailand medical industry expects little impact from freer movement of ASEAN labour
BY LARRY BANKS


Bangkok Hospital, Thailand.

BANGKOK: -- With the ASEAN Community set to come into force, Thailand has been debating whether freedom of movement for skilled labour will have any impact on the countrys growing medical industry.

On the first of January 2016, a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) will facilitate the free movement of skilled labour across the entire region as part of the ASEAN Community agreement.

Eight skilled labour sectors are included in the MRA including engineers, architects and medical practitioners. It was designed to promote a much stronger workforce that exchanges skills and better achieves international standards.

But some academics and members of the medical community in Thailand believe not much will change.

The MRA doesnt make it easier for them to move, said Saowaruj Rattanakhamfu, Senior Research Fellow at the Thailand Development Research Institute. I do not think that the ASEAN Community will have any impact on the free flow of skilled labour in ASEAN countries.

The reason for this belief is that doctors still have to comply with domestic standards and regulations. For doctors in Thailand, they will have to complete patient examinations, which in many cases have to be done in Thai.

Full story: http://ethailand.com/business-news/thailand-medical-little-impact-from-asean/1146/

-- eThailand 2015-12-31

I agree probably not many will come to the Thai system but there is a distinct possibility of the better staff, ie ones that can speak English to a proper standard, moving out of the Thai system to other countries

Interesting to see we are still getting the same old nothing will change for Thailand rhetoric and maybe so but it also smacks of that oh so common trait in Thailand of burying one's head in the sand....time will tell

whats the point of joining if 'nothing will change'?

whats the point of joining if 'nothing will change'?

Gaining face with pompous press releases.

whats the point of joining if 'nothing will change'?

Because it's the start of a process that may eventually lead somewhere ...

ASEAN will benefit mature, driven, committed, forward-looking countries like Vietnam and Singapore, not politically, economically and morally bankrupt nations too stubborn to change.

The analysis seems to be few staff expected to come to Thailand due to lack of Thai language skills but a possible drain of Thai staff with good language skills.

The analysis seems to be few staff expected to come to Thailand due to lack of Thai language skills but a possible drain of Thai staff with good language skills.

+1

Nurses. You can't have too many filipino nurses! That's my credo.

It's the only one of the eight professions where I see much of anyone really wanting to come to Thailand and work. The others are going to run into too many headwinds to do much and then who would really want to battle all that AND be treated badly to boot.

whats the point of joining if 'nothing will change'?

Its called Musical Chairs.

Unfortunately nursing is NOT one of the only 8 professionals that will be allowed to practice in Thailand.

"whats the point of joining if 'nothing will change'?"

I don't think it was intended to be so restrictive but some countries are scared of the competition.