The Ministry of Public Health admitted to meeting 9 hospitals where doctors worked hard 64 hours/week and ordered to speed up production. Addressing the shortage of doctors Simultaneously, an average of 455 physicians resign each year, less than 900, according to some resigned physicians.
Dr. Taweesin Wissanuyothin, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Pimpetch Sukhumalphaiboon, M.D. Director of the Office of Project Management for the Production of Additional Doctors for Rural People Addressing the shortage of doctors in the public health system admitted that currently doctors in the system of the Ministry of Public Health is in a real shortage Although over the years there have been efforts to produce more doctors steadily. which the production plan between the Ministry of Higher Education, numbering more than 3,000 people/year, and the Ministry of Public Health More than 1,000 people produced by themselves / year, but doctors in the Ministry of Public Health system There are still not enough numbers. Because doctors upon graduation must enter the allocation system to go to agencies such as the Ministry of Defence. or Bangkok As a result, there are only more than 2,000 doctors left in the Ministry of Public Health system per year, but there are few years left, for example, in 2022, there are only 1,850 doctors left in the Ministry of Public Health system, contrary to the increased workload of doctors. climb especially during the COVID situation
There are currently 24,649 doctors in the Ministry of Health, with a treatment rate of one doctor for every 2,000 patients compared to the UK. which has a public health system similar to that of Thailand and have similar populations The British physician rate is only 3 doctors per 1000 patients.
Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health Acknowledged that 9 hospitals in the affiliation were under “work load” in which doctors had to work 64 hours a week. considered a heavy workload Compared to the working hours of doctors in the world It exceeded the standard set for no more than 40 hours per week only.
The plan to solve the shortage of doctors stated that the Ministry of Public Health There is a plan to produce enough doctors. In a 10-year period, the goal is to produce 3,300 doctors per year and discuss with the Office of the Civil Service Commission or the Feb. requesting to expand the doctor filling rate. In the past, the Feb. was not an obstacle to the problem of expanding the doctor rate. In addition, take measures to increase compensation. welfare measures career progression measures and measures to reduce the workload of doctors To motivate more new graduates to stay in the Ministry of Public Health system. Including may solve problems by opening for doctors with private degrees Or a doctor graduated from abroad to become an employee of the ministry and later included as an official
Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health He also confirmed that less than 900 doctors resigned in 2022, according to some doctors. By clarifying the data of physicians resigned for the past 10 years, from 2013-2022, there were only 455 physicians resigned on average per year, not including retired physicians. which amounts to 150-200 people per year
The reporter asked Seeing the shortage of doctors as a spin on the political tide? Dr. Thaweesil said he saw it as an opportunity to talk about the problem to find a solution and encourage young doctors. which requires cooperation from the staff or senior doctor Let’s help support and take care of the younger generation as well.
In the case of writing a medical record Or a large number of patient records each day is another reason for the resignation of the physician. Dr. Pimpetch said that there are currently many hospitals. using technology to help solve this problem which some hospitals can do all There are some hospitals that can do some. depending on the system must admit that writing a patient’s medical record It’s something that doctors can’t avoid. But in the future, we will try to find tools and technologies to help alleviate the workload in this section.-Thai News Agency
Source: Thai News Agency