BANGKOK, 25 May 2011 -Public Health Ministry Spokesperson Supan Srithamma has revealed that almost 10,000 doctors are needed to respond to medical needs across Thailand.
According to Dr. Supan, there are currently 13,083 doctors providing medical attention to Thai people in the country; however, 9,722 are needed to fill the vacancies. He further explained the addition is essential to make sure all Thais have access to medical services. The ratio of the doctor per patient is 1: 7,000.
Each doctor will be assigned to work in a location based on the GIS system which the population will be taken into account. New graduates on scholarship are able to choose where they prefer to practice, but they are expected to serve as interns in a hospital during the first year after their graduation before continuing to work in a community healthcare center for another 3 years.
Public Health Ministry Spokesperson added later that in each community hospital there must be at least 4 doctors while in places where shortages are sustained, such as those in the 3 southernmost provinces, unlimited number of doctors will be supplied to the hospitals until they are no longer needed.
