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Awards which continue to empower women doctors in rural areas
2521Visitors | [2020-02-05] 

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Awards which continue to empower women doctors in rural areas

   The catastrophic damage caused by the 2004 Tsunami highlighted the critical shortage of medical resources in the southwestern region of Thailand. In response to this disaster, the directors of the TMWA developed a vision for a scholarship program funded by the initial donation from Prof. Dr. Roussos in 2005. At the first stage, through close coordination with the Ministry of Public Health, the TWMA identified female medical students whose families had suffered from the disaster. Next, as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) mission, the TMWA decided to address the structural shortage of medical doctors in rural areas and began awarding scholarships annually. Since the program's inception, 105 scholarships have been granted, 32 graduates are practicing medicine in their hometowns, 71 students are studying in 14 universities, and only 2 students have chosen to leave the program and transfer to other academic studies. As of October 2019, the cumulative number of scholars is 103, as is shown in the figures below.               

 

 

Universities with Medical Schools where the Scholars are Studying or Graduated from

	Scholars	Graduates	Still Studying	*
1. Chulalongkorn University	1	-	1	-
2. Khon Kaen University	6	2	4	-
3. Chiang Mai University	8	4	3	* 1 dropped out
4. Suranaree University of Technology	7	3	4	-
5. Thammasat University	8	1	7	-
6. Princess of Naradhiwas University	2	1	1	-
7. Naresuan University	5	4	2	-
8. Mahidol University	10	5	5	-
9. Burapha University	1	-	1	-
10. University of Phayao	3	-	2	* 1 Changed majors
11. Mahasarakham University	6	3	3	-
12. Walailak University	11	2	9	-
13. Prince of Songkla University	6	4	2	-
14. Ubon Ratchathani University	30	3	27	-

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   The TMWA scholarship program is based on the philosophy and objective that the scholar recipients will continue practicing medicine in their rural hometowns or in other remote areas of Thailand. It has contributed to a wide distribution of doctors throughout the country. Although the Royal Thai Government has expanded the number of educational facilities for medical studies nationwide and has established additional medical units in various regions, most recent medical school graduates continue to migrate to jobs in major cities after completing their 3 years of compulsory rural practice. As a result, the ratio of physicians to the general population in Bangkok is 1:867 while in the Northeastern region it is 1:7,015.

Strong commitment of the TMWA and MOPH

  The program's success is based on the vision and continued support of the selection committee and the program founders, including Dr. Suwanee Raktham, President of the TMWA at the time of the program's establishment. The 15 years of subsequent growth has been made possible by the efforts of subsequent TMWA presidents and scholarship committee members, including Prof. Emeritus Dr. Khun Nanta Maranetra M.D., Assoc. Prof. Dr. Orapin Singhadej M.D., Jantra Chennavasin M.D., Clin. Prof. Siraporn Sawasdivorn M.D., and Pattariya Jarurat M.D.