Abstract
Veterinarians have been recognized as the major profession providing services for animal health. Veterinary services do not affect only the animal health well-being, but also human health through the roles in food security and control of zoonotic diseases. Objectives of the present study were to analyze demand and supply of veterinary workforce in Thailand, using retrospective data and to project veterinary workforce in the next 10 years from 2015-2025. Simple linear regression analyses were used to analyze demands for veterinarians working with livestock in private sectors using data of poultry and swine farm veterinarians, and veterinarians working with companion animals in hospitals and clinics using data of members of the Veterinary Practitioner Association of Thailand (VPAT). Demand for veterinarians in government sectors was calculated directly from available data. Overall supply for veterinary workforce was analyzed using simple linear regression analysis, together with the analysis of employment status of veterinary graduates from 6 veterinary schools in Thailand. Results from analysis of demand for veterinary workforce showed that numbers of poultry farm veterinarians, swine farm veterinarians and VPAT members were increased by 123.75 ± 5.13 person/year, 122.52 ± 6.33 person/year and 453.20 ± 29.16 person/year, respectively. Overall supply for veterinarians was increased by 431 person/year. Most veterinarians work with companion animals in hospitals and clinics (49.86%), followed by veterinarians working with livestock in private sectors (21.95%) and veterinarians in government sectors (10.23%). Veterinary workforce in Thailand is still in shortage. Policy of workforce planning for veterinary profession is urgently necessary.
