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Medical education in Thailand was pioneered by King Chulalongkorn, who founded the country's first medical school called the "School of Medical Practitioners" at Siriraj Hospital in 1889, now the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University. There are now 23 institutions offering medical programs nationwide, most of them public. All medical schools in Thailand award a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, whereby the degree is equivalent to a master's degree in Thailand. Most of these schools also provide postgraduate and specialist programs. The Medical Council of Thailand (TMC) is responsible for verifying all curricula.[1][2]
Almost all public medical school students are under contract to work under the national internship program, set up by the TMC after graduation. In cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), medical school students are required to work under the national internship program for three years. The TMC states the program's purpose is to improve the quality of healthcare services, reduce the service inequality between Bangkok and the remaining 76 provinces and increase the medical skills of young graduates. Residency training in Thailand requires participation in the national internship program.
