Bridging the HR gap in the long run requires education reform, so that more doctors, nurses and technicians are trained in Thailand. The current rate at which the system produces medical workforce is, and will be even more, inadequate. Severe shortage of physicians, nurses, and pharmacists would hamper Thailand’s aspiration to be a top-notched medical tourist destination. The reform may extend to hospitals and public health facilities re-organizing work processes to make more efficient use of limited human resources.
Public hospitals can adopt business models that improve retention of high-skilled workers. For example, some renowned public teaching hospitals have recently opened private facilities that provide services equivalent to those of high-end private hospitals. This allows them to bridge the pay gap for physicians, while generating revenues that can help support their public healthcare operations.
These changes will take considerable amount of time to deliberate and implement. Taking action now will help ensure that the success of Thailand's high-end hospitals does not sicken the nation’s overall healthcare system.