9-6-2023 (BANGKOK) Around 10,000 new nurses graduate annually in Thailand, yet up to 7,000 of them quit state-run hospitals each year due to overwhelming workloads and insufficient pay for overtime, according to the nurses’ union and Nurses Connect.
The alarming rate at which nurses are resigning serves as a wake-up call for the new government to explore more effective strategies aimed at retaining a maximum number of nurses within the country’s state-run healthcare system.
Suwimol Namkanisorn, a representative of the nurse’s union and Nurses Connect, highlighted that the rate of new nurses resigning within their first year of work has reached a staggering 48.9%.
Namkanisorn emphasized the importance of implementing measures to retain nurses in the state-run healthcare system rather than simply increasing the number of newly trained nurses.
Currently, these nurses work an average of 80 hours per week, far exceeding the maximum of 60 hours per week set by the Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council. The increasing number of nurse resignations has resulted in a heavier workload for those remaining in the profession.
“To alleviate the situation, it is crucial for the new public health minister to gradually reduce the average number of working hours for nurses in hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health’s jurisdiction from 80 to approximately 60 per week,” stated Namkanisorn.
Addressing the issue of overtime pay, Namkanisorn highlighted the discrepancy between nurses working at hospitals under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and those under the ministry. While BMA nurses receive 1,200 baht for an eight-hour shift of overtime work, their counterparts in ministry hospitals are paid only between 650 and 800 baht per shift.
Namkanisorn emphasized the need for equal and fair compensation, advocating for a standardized higher overtime pay rate across all healthcare facilities.
The current state of nurse resignations in Thai state-run hospitals demands immediate attention and action from the government to address the pressing issues of excessive workloads and inadequate pay. Focusing on effective retention strategies will be vital in preserving a strong and dedicated nursing workforce within the country’s healthcare system.
