The winds of change are gusting through Thailand’s healthcare landscape, bringing with them a sweeping revolution that champions inclusivity and compassion. The Ministry of Public Health is blazing a trail with the announcement of a monumental 145 million baht healthcare package dedicated to gender-affirming hormone therapy for the nation’s transgender and gender-diverse population. This forward-thinking initiative is set to be rolled out under the well-established 30-baht universal healthcare scheme, aiming to offer a beacon of hope and support for those in need. Leading this charge into a more equitable future is the stalwart Public Health Minister, Somsak Thepsuthin. With the pivotal role of chairman of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) board, Somsak has greenlit the inclusion of six crucial hormone-related medications to the national procurement list under the auspices of the Treatment Anywhere scheme. These life-affirming medications span from leuprorelin injections and 17-beta estradiol tablets to estradiol transdermal patches,…
