Health ministry possibly increase compensation for doctors who quit

He said this mechanism would help prevent medical professionals quitting state hospitals to work in private hospitals at higher salaries.

Suphan said that before students enrol at medical school, they have to sign a contract with the Public Health Ministry confirming that they will work in state hospitals, particularly in rural areas, for three years after they graduate. If not, they have to pay Bt400,000 in compensation to the medical school.

He reasoned that most medical students studied at public medical school at taxpayers' and the government's expense. Each student was subsidised to the tune of Bt1.8 million for six years. This was why they had to contribute their skill and knowledge and pay for their education by working in the public sector for three years.

However, due to the low compensation penalty, which was imposed in 1973, and the heavy work load at public hospitals, most doctors prefer to pay the penalty fee and work at private hospitals on a higher salary.

To halt the influx of medical professionals from state hospitals to the private sector, the ministry is setting up a working group to discuss details of the proposed new compensation penalty.