If we apply the minimal human resource standard set by the gold card scheme to all schemes under the assumption that physicians are uniformly distributed throughout the country in proportion to population density, a minimum of 16 250 physicians would be needed for the 65 million Thais. However, this assumption is unrealistic. The per capita distribution of physicians is very uneven in Thailand. According to Table 2, there were 21 051 physicians in 2006. However, in the north-eastern region, which is the largest both in terms of territory and population, the number of physicians in both the public and the private sectors is still below the meagre standard of 1 physician per 4000 people.
should do the following:
(1) Personnel production
should be developed, since Thai
medical and medical service
standards are already high. The
emphasis should be on increased
personnel by offering international
teaching curriculums
(2) Thailand should be
pushed to become the Medical
Hub of ASEAN, including attracting
people within ASEAN for medical
treatment and study in Thailand.
Thai medical and public health
care standards are already very
high.