In line with the government’s policy to develop the health economy and medical services by expanding the health tourism and traditional Thai medicine businesses and promoting the upgrading of herbs and herbal products to meet increasing health needs, the Ministry of Public Health, under the leadership of Mr. Somsak Thepsuthin, Minister of Public Health, has implemented the “Whenever You’re Sick, Think of Traditional Thai Medicine Before Seeking a Doctor” policy to promote the application of traditional Thai medicine wisdom, folk medicine, and herbs for medical benefits and to foster public self-reliance. Key operational strategies include: The National Health Security Office (NHSO) announced an increase in the budget for traditional Thai and alternative medicine services and adjusted the payment criteria for herbal medicines on the National List of Essential Medicines to a fee schedule. The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine is promoting a service system to increase patient care with herbal medicines for 10 common and mild illnesses in all health care systems, including government hospitals, quality pharmacies, and village health volunteers. Research on herbal medicines is also being promoted. This approach to treating illnesses with herbal medicines in primary care will serve as a tool for traditional Thai practitioners to understand the 10 common illnesses and to prescribe herbal medicines appropriately for the disease, person, dose, time, and method, covering all symptom groups. The recommended herbal medicines are listed in the National List of Essential Medicines, have a long history of use, and have safety data. This will help promote increased use of herbal medicines and, importantly, help alleviate patient congestion in large hospitals.
