Mae Sot doctor resigns over workload and support issues

A doctor in Mae Sot has defended her decision to resign after facing accusations of dishonesty regarding doctor shortages. She cited heavy workloads and insufficient support as the main reasons for her resignation. The doctor, Ms. Nuttagarn, previously reported that there was a very high doctor-to-patient ratio of 1 to 8,000. This situation was made worse as the local hospital also serves migrant workers and refugees. Somsak, a local official, disputed her numbers, claiming the actual ratio is about 1 doctor for every 1,400 patients. He argued that Mae Sot has a population of 110,000 Thai residents and over 117,000 migrants. According to him, the national average ratio is 1 to 1,100, which is far better than what she suggested. In response, Ms. Nuttagarn took to Facebook to express her feelings. She stood by her resignation, suggesting that the current healthcare policies were harming professionals in her field. She noted that her work conditions compelled her to leave, stating she might have made that decision earlier. She also shared her gratitude to those who supported her during her 21 years in the Public Health Ministry. Despite her challenges, Ms. Nuttagarn remains optimistic and hopes for better treatment for her fellow medical staff in the future.