The Ministry of Public Health is joining hands with the Sheikhul Islam (Chularatchamontri) Office and other Muslim organizations in providing training on Nuad Thai, or traditional Thai massage, to meet halal requirements for Muslim consumers.

Director-General of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Dr. Somruek Chungsaman stated that the training course, in the form of onsite training, aims to provide Nuad Thai techniques in accordance with Thai traditional medicine and halal standards. It will last 24 hours, and trainees must already be Nuad Thai practitioners and have received certificates for 60 hours or over of Nuad Thai training for health.

Dr. Somruek said that the training course would upgrade traditional Thai massage services to be more recognized internationally. It would also attract more tourists, especially Muslim visitors, to Thailand, as well as creating greater economic value for the country.

Mr. Arun Boonchom, Sheikhul Islam of Thailand, said that the training on Nuad Thai in accordance with halal principles is considered a major factor to create confidence among Muslims worldwide who use traditional Thai massage services. He commended the Ministry of Public Health, through the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, for placing importance on this issue and driving the initiative.

Nuad Thai was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2019. The inscription has significantly contributed to the international recognition of Nuad Thai’s value and importance as the intangible cultural heritage on healthcare.

The Ministry of Public Health has encouraged state hospitals to open Thai traditional medical services. A total of 13,533 state health establishments across the country have so far offered Thai traditional medicine for patients. Over the past year, these services have been provided for 15.6 million times and generated over three billion baht in economic value.