Page 124 - Traditional Medicine Systems of BIMSTEC Member States – 2023 Report

2) Protection of medicinal plants. Under the Act, a medicinal plant that is

valuable for research, or has economic value, or may become extinct will be
protected by issuing a ministerial regulation as a controlled medicinal plant,

of which the rule of occupancy quantity will be established based on the
types of occupiers. Occupancy quantity of controlled medicinal plants shall

be declared with a Central Registrar (DTAM or authorised person) and a
Provincial Registrar (provincial health officer or authorised person).

3) Protection of medicinal plant habitats which could be inside or outside
conservation areas and privately-owned land.

13. Challenges and ways forward

Challenges in the promotion of the public to use traditional medicine for

health
Public promotion to increase the use of traditional medicine for health is a major

challenge of Thailand because:
• Public confidence in using herbal medicines for self-care and in receiving TTM

service remains low as compared with confidence in modern medicines,
• There are limited scientific evidence from clinical researches to support

effectiveness and safety of TM therapies and herbal medicinal products to
ensure confidence of the public and other healthcare professionals on TM,

• Fake news about medicinal plants and herbal medicines spreading on the
Internet and low health literacy in herbs and TTM make the problem more

complicated.

Ways forward
• Identify clear research goal, develop national research plan, and increase

research funding in TM will have an impact on the health service system and
the confidence of TM users,

• Support and enhance the role of TTM practitioners in the health service system
to work along with other health professionals.

• Elevate Thai traditional medical practitioners to be specialists in particular
areas, i.e., insomnia, chronic pain, psoriasis, intermediate care (IMC), and

postnatal care, etc.
Thailand

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