Japan joins forces with Thailand on producing rural doctors

NONTHABURI, THAILAND, July 1 (TNA) - Japan-based Kyoto University has cooperated with Thailand, through the Ministry of Public Health, to jointly developed a curriculum to produce doctors for people in rural Thai areas, with more than 4,000 doctors having graduated under the curriculum so far. Thai Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public health Dr. Songyot Chaichana presided over the signing of an agreement for the joint project on rural doctors production between his ministry and Kyoto University's Center for Medical Education at his ministry on the outskirts of Bangkok on Tuesday. Under the agreement, officially effective from July 1, 2014, Japan will support Thailand in enhancing the capabilities of lecturers who produce rural doctors, exchange experts on medical research and teaching and exchange information, experiences and research projects on medical education. The capability enhancement training under the agreed project will take place at the medical education centers of 37 hospitals under the Thai Ministry of Public Health. Dr. Songyot revealed that his ministry first started its project on increasing rural doctors in 1995, with medical students under the project reaching 10,240 last year, 4,164 of whom have graduated and worked in their native provinces and 5,903 others are studying. According to the senior Thai official, Japan has experienced in developing curricula to produce local doctors to meet health demands, especially those for serving the elderly.(TNA)