The government affirms that the "Gold Card" rights cover Thai traditional medicine, including massage, herbal treatments, and postpartum mother rehabilitation. It revealed an increased budget allocation for fiscal year 2026 aimed at ensuring comprehensive health service access for the public.
On 15 June 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Ploytale Laksamee Sangchan, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, stated that the government is committed to ensuring that people entitled to the National Health Security Scheme (the 30-baht Gold Card) have comprehensive access to health services. This includes ongoing development of benefits for Thai traditional medicine and alternative medicine, supported by budget allocations. For fiscal year 2026, the budget allocation increased from 31.9 baht per person in 2025 to 63.24 baht per person.
Ms. Ploytale explained that currently, Thai traditional medicine services under the Gold Card system follow the "National Health Security Office Announcement on Payment for Public Health Services in Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine 2025," which clearly defines benefits to ensure appropriate and standardized access. Services covered include Thai massage, herbal compress therapy, combined massage and compress, herbal steam, knee poultices, postpartum maternal rehabilitation, and herbal medicine listed in the National Essential Medicines List. Alternative medicine services include acupuncture or electroacupuncture for stroke patients according to medical indications. Postpartum rehabilitation services follow Thai traditional medical practice guidelines to aid maternal recovery, reduce fatigue, and support a faster return to full health.
"Thai traditional medicine services under the Gold Card system not only provide treatment options but integrate Thai wisdom into the health service system in a concrete way. This ensures comprehensive care covering treatment, rehabilitation, and health promotion. National Health Security Scheme beneficiaries wishing to use these services can contact their designated service units or any National Health Security Office system unit offering Thai traditional and alternative medicine for evaluation and treatment based on medical indications. In fiscal year 2025, there were 4.05 million service visits. Herbal medicine use follows the National Essential Medicines List indications and is subject to professional standards, with 13.20 million service visits recorded."