Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn said on Friday that the positions had already been approved by the committee governing the government workforce.

The approval came after the Cabinet earlier this week agreed to review its previous decision not to create new civil-servant positions for nurses who are now working as employees or temporary employees at state hospitals.

The review took place amid nurses’ protests and threats by nurses to quit and move to private medical facilities.

“These additional positions for civil-servant nurses will be made available between 2017 and 2019,” Piyasakol said.