In my opinion, Thailand has been increasingly investing in healthcare technology such as electronic health records (EHRs), indicating a growing demand for health informatics professionals. The workforce likely includes healthcare professionals with additional informatics training, IT specialists in healthcare systems, data analysts, and health informaticians. Also, some universities in Thailand may offer relevant programs and government initiatives could further support workforce development.
Below are challenges of the health informatics workforce in Thailand:
• There’s a lack of comprehensive guidelines and standards issued by healthcare agencies (governance framework) to ensure all professionals are going to achieve the same goal of health informatics workforce, this is leading to inconsistencies in health informatics practices across the country.
• There is a shortage/limited of trained professionals to meet the increasing demand and continuous learning of programs like the Growing Expertise in Health Knowledge and Skills (GEEKS) and professional development were necessary due to rapidly evolving technology.
• There is a shortage of technological resources + insufficient financial support to invest the implementation and sustainability of health informatics solutions.
• Inadequate collaboration among healthcare professionals due to a lack of teamwork and burnout can negatively impact the implementation and utilization of health informatics systems.
These challenges could require collaborative efforts from policymakers for governance framework, healthcare leaders, IT professionals, and stakeholders by establishing standardized governance frameworks, promote interoperability, support collaboration, enhance technological resources, and secure adequate funding for health informatics in Thailand.