Guidelines for Health Workforce Management During the Transition Period of Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital Transfer to the Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Administrative Organization

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the readiness, operational problems, specific needs, and strategic guidelines for health workforce management during the transition period of Sub-district Health Promoting Hospitals to the Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Administrative Organization. The study population comprised 74 directors of the transferred health centers and 17 experts and executives drawn from the Provincial Public Health Office, District Public Health Offices, and Local Administrative Organizations. The research instruments included structured questionnaires and interview forms. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean () and standard deviation (S.D.), while qualitative data obtained from the interviews were synthesized through content analysis. The research findings revealed that the overall readiness for the health workforce transfer was at a high level ( = 2.67). Regarding workforce management problems, the public health administration group reported structural difficulties at the highest and high level ( = 3.74). In terms of specific requirements, there was a clear need for personnel recruitment aligned with the official organizational structure based on facility size, enhanced welfare benefits, and appropriate compensation for family medicine practices. Additionally, the findings highlighted a demand for multidisciplinary teams from parent networks to serve as continuous mentors in family medicine operations. To address these challenges, the study proposes guidelines for health workforce management suggesting that relevant agencies should increase personnel numbers according to the specific size of each health facility and integrate budgetary support into a unified manpower framework for systematic health workforce planning. The study further recommends the establishment of designated service zones and the appointment of zone chairpersons to function as coordination hubs. Crucially, as an urgent measure, cooperation should be forged with local higher education institutions to develop and organize short-term training programs focusing on finance, procurement, and Ministry of Interior regulations for the transferred healthcare personnel, thereby effectively mitigating systemic impacts on public health administration.