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Point of view on the implementation of MRAs in the medical
profession

by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prasobsri Ungthavorn, representative from the

Medical Council of Thailand

One of the significant challenges for implementation of

MRAs in the medical area is specialist training; in other words, the
range and the competency of training among ASEAN countries

are different. To address this challenge, I think that we should
have an exchange program in each medical specialty.

Another challenge is related to a license which allows

doctors to practice in Thailand. At present, Thailand is the only
country where the non-Thais are allowed to sit for licensing

examination. The examination consists of three parts: the
first two parts are in English and the last part is only in Thai.
Therefore, foreign doctors who pass the examination have no

problems in communication with patients. On the contrary,
in the Philippines, the non-Philippines are not allowed to

take the examination. They are allowed only to be an intern.
This is the different national regulations. In my opinion, Thai
regulations are too open because we do not want to discriminate

the Thai from non -Thai.

Additionally, we do not have the renewing system for

the license, which means that once the practitioners get the

Policy Forum 49

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