The ratio of state doctors to the population is now about 1 to 2,800 people - well below the target ratio of 1 to 1,800, the Public Health Minister said.

"To fix the problem, we are going to recruit 750 new doctors annually over a period of six years from now through a special project," Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla said.

"Each district will select one scholarship recipient to join this project. After graduation, these scholarship recipients will have to return to their home districts and work there."

He said the low ratio of state doctors to the population had subjected doctors to huge workloads with reduced time per patient, a higher risk of mistakes and a greater chance of being sued for malpractice.

"This affects the morale of doctors in rural environments, where they work hard with limited resources and equipment," Mongkol said.

The country's medical schools produce nearly 2,000 new doctors each year. Currently, there are about 9,300 state doctors across the country.

Mongkol expressed hope that the additional new doctors would ensure that people in all areas have access to proper medical care.

He was speaking at a seminar before presenting the 2006 Outstanding Rural Doctors Awards to Dr Thawat Boonthai, director of Muang Samsib Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani, and Dr Cherdphan Pattarapongsin, head of Nong Bua Rahaew Hospital in Chaiyaphum, along with their teams.

Permanent secretary for Health Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot said the ministry was planning to promote all community hospital directors from C-8 rank to C-9. "We have forwarded the plan to the Office of Civil Service Commission for review," he said. Most community hospitals are located in rural areas.