He claims that the government’s recommendation is” not a authority.”
PUBLISHED: 5 May 2025 at 05: 03
Somsak Thepsutin, the government’s minister of public health, defended the president’s effort to promote natural medicines over European pharmaceuticals for treating common illnesses, claiming the initiative was meant to give patients other treatment options.
According to Mr. Somsak, physicians should think about prescribing herbal medicines to their clients, especially those who work in state-run facilities.
Doing so will not simply lower the country’s reliance on imported medications and lower the cost of treatment, but it will also increase public trust in the effectiveness of such medications.
He emphasized that the program was intended to promote Thai conventional medicines, not as a set of rules for doctors. This is not a strictly enforced rule; it is simply a physician’s advice, according to Mr. Somsak.
Although doctors are free to choose what kind of medications they prescribe to their patients, Mr. Somsak claimed that the National Health Security Office ( NHSO ), which allocates around one billion baht annually to support the promotion of Thai herbal medicines, could benefit from the incentives offered to clinics and hospitals that promote traditional treatments.
Despite the commission’s claims, many doctors have expressed concerns about the potential impact of the policy on public health.
A physician who requested anonymity claimed that the decision puts them in a tough position because many of these treatments have not yet been independently proven to be effective.
Another noted that due to the limited offer on the market, some natural remedies are actually more expensive than American medications. However, some people worry that the recommendation does cause patients to wait longer to seek out safe treatment.
Somruek Chungsaman, director-general of the Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Department, expressed concern about the country’s limited resources and high costs, noting that there are 44 private firms and state-run organizations previously producing large quantities of standard treatments.
He defended the potency of conventional herbs, noting that they are listed on the national essential medicines list because they have been shown to treat the virus, muscle soreness, constipation, flatulence, and hemorrhoids, five common ailments.
He said the hospital’s information systems show prescribed details, including dosages and treatment recommendations, to ease doctors ‘ concerns about prescribing herbal medicines.
He claimed that “over time, they will become more comfortable prescribing standard remedies,” citing internal miscommunication as the cause of the resistance to the new system as opposed to policy flaws. According to Dr. Somruek, the office is conducting a study to get the views of the country’s doctors, and the results will be used to develop Thai holistic medicine advertising strategies in the future.