The Ministry of Public Health has joined hands with the private sector in stepping up efforts to drive Thailand toward becoming a sustainable global wellness hub, with an emphasis on elevating the standards of Thai traditional medicine, traditional massage, and indigenous herbs.

Minister of Public Health Pattana Promphat on 3 July 2026 presided over the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Thai Wellness Therapist Program between the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Dhurakij Pundit University, BDMS Wellness, Chiva-Som, and Thai Spa Association.

Under the three-year MOU, the five agencies will jointly produce qualified personnel and create a complete wellness ecosystem by linking education with standard certification and employment. The wellness therapist program will be developed to meet international standards, while a digital central database for wellness professionals will be established in response to the needs of the global market.

Mr. Pattana stated that advancing the health economics policy in a concrete manner would help increase economic value for both health services and wellness tourism. It would also stimulate the local economy and enhance Thailand’s competitiveness in the long run.  

In 2024, Thailand’s wellness economy was valued at US$42.7 billion, or 1.5 trillion baht. Thailand is now ranked as the 24th largest wellness economy in the world and 15th worldwide for wellness tourism. It is still in need of a great number of qualified personnel in the wellness industry.

The five-agency collaboration would create a major mechanism to upgrade the local wisdom of Thai traditional medicine. The wellness industry is being transformed into one of Thailand’s key drivers that will strengthen the Thai economy and distribute wealth to the people at the local-economy level, while developing Thailand as a quality destination for health and wellness travel.