Bangkok: Somsak Thepsuthin, Minister of Public Health, has addressed concerns regarding the Ministry of Public Health's recent guidelines urging hospitals to consider using herbal medicines as an alternative to modern medicine. The initiative, aimed at promoting Thai traditional wisdom, has sparked apprehension among many healthcare facilities.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Somsak clarified that the policy involves the use of herbal medicines, which include 55 specific items, as options rather than mandatory replacements for current treatments. He emphasized that the approach seeks to integrate Thai traditional medicine, alternative medicine, and basic herbal remedies into healthcare practices, offering hospitals a choice among four groups of treatments. The intention is to leverage local resources, potentially reducing dependence on foreign medicines and supporting the 30-baht universal healthcare project, which historically operates on a budget of 1 billion baht annually.
Mr. Somsak further explained that while some hospitals have expressed concerns about the efficacy of herbal medicines compared to modern pharmaceuticals, he believes herbal remedies can be more effective for certain conditions. For instance, Andrographis paniculata is suggested as an alternative treatment for constipation, which some hospitals have already adopted.
In response to questions about whether this policy imposes a requirement on hospitals to prescribe herbal medicines, Mr. Somsak reassured that it remains an option rather than a mandate. He noted that the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has recognized hospitals that incorporate these basic herbal medicines extensively, highlighting the benefits for Thai citizens and the promotion of Thai wisdom. Mr. Somsak urged the public not to take the matter too seriously, advocating for a balanced approach that does not rely solely on chemical medicines.