Thailand’s Public Well being Ministry is championing the usage of conventional natural medicines to scale back reliance on expensive imported prescribed drugs.
A key purpose is to generate 3 billion baht in income from natural drugs gross sales by 2026.
Well being Minister Somsak Thepsuthin launched the “When Sick, Consider Thai Medication Earlier than Seeing a Physician” coverage at a workshop for medical personnel on Monday.
The occasion, held in Bangkok, was attended by senior well being officers, together with deputy everlasting secretaries Dr Puwadet Surakhot and Montien Kanasawadse, and Dr Somruek Chungsaman, director-general of the Division of Thai Conventional and Different Medication.
Somsak highlighted the present imbalance, saying that of the 70.543 billion baht spent on medicines within the public well being system, just one.56 billion baht is allotted to natural treatments.
Inside the Nationwide Well being Safety system, this determine drops to simply 408 million baht, regardless of proof suggesting the comparable effectiveness of many natural remedies.
The ministry goals to considerably improve natural drugs use inside the Nationwide Well being Safety system, concentrating on no less than 1.5 billion baht by the tip of 2025 and three billion baht by 2026.
From March 1, 32 natural medicines can be accessible underneath a brand new charge schedule system, a collaboration between the Division of Thai Conventional and Different Medication and the Nationwide Well being Safety Workplace (NHSO).
This may streamline reimbursements for natural remedies and improve their pricing, encouraging wider adoption. The initiative goals to supply sufferers with extra selection, cut back drug imports, promote Thai conventional data and enhance the nationwide financial system.
