About 500 rural doctors and medical workers are expected to rally in front of the Public Health Ministry today to protest against the pay-for-performance (P4P) scheme.
Rural Doctors Society (RDS) president Kriangsak Watcharanukulkiat said a network of patients and the pharmacy association's labour union would join forces with the doctors and dentists at the protest. The rally could draw up to 500 participants, he said.
The group will also submit a petition to the Office of the Auditor-General today to investigate whether the new medical salary system breaks the law, Mr Kriangsak said.
The P4P scheme took effect on April 1. It halves hardship allowances, while allocating doctors' additional allowances based on individual performance.
The original hardship allowance was based on each doctor's degree of isolation and working conditions, Dr Kriangsak said.
Opponents say the new system cuts pay for rural doctors and will lead to a mass exodus of medical professionals from remote areas.
Dr Kriangsak said the RDS will launch a campaign to gather 20,000 signatures of rural doctors and medical workers to submit to the Senate speaker.
The petition will seek to impeach Public Health Minister Pradit Sintawanarong by the end of this month, he said.
Meanwhile, some hospital directors have come out in support of the P4P system.
Yala's Krong Pinang Hospital director, Sommai Bunkriang, said hospitals in Yala would not be affected by the new salary system.
He said the system would boost efficiency of hospitals and restore public faith in medical professionals.
The system will earn doctors more trust from their patients and will reduce the number of lawsuits against hospitals and doctors, Dr Sommai said.
Kalasin Hospital director, Som-ard Tangcharoen, said no doctors have resigned from the hospital so far.
Last week, former public health minister Mongkol Na Songkhla called on the doctors and the ministry to hold talks to iron out their differences.
He accused both parties of "losing their minds".
