The government has dismissed concerns about puberty blockers in children, confirming that the National Health Security Office (NHSO) applies strict criteria targeting transgender individuals with medical necessity.
On 28 June 2026, Ms. Ploytale Lakshmisaengchan, Deputy Government Spokesperson, addressed societal concerns regarding hormone therapy services for gender affirmation, particularly doubts about the use of puberty blockers in children and youth. She stated that the NHSO has reviewed and confirmed that current practices strictly follow clear and rigorous medical protocols. The target group for these services comprises Thai transgender and gender diverse individuals with medical necessity for gender affirmation, who must undergo thorough holistic health assessments by licensed medical professionals.
The Deputy Government Spokesperson explained the age requirement: individuals aged 18 and over can provide consent for services themselves. If a physician assessing a case determines it to be beyond their expertise due to complexity, the patient will be promptly referred to a specialist with higher expertise.
“It is important to understand that this service is not about distributing medication, nor is it for cosmetic purposes, and it does not allow children or youth to access these drugs without oversight. Rather, it is a medical service strictly for those with genuine medical need. Currently, the reimbursable protocol covers only those aged 18 and above. A review of all reimbursement data shows no cases of those under 18 receiving these medications. Those below 18 do not meet the criteria and cannot access the service,” Ms. Ploytale emphasized.
Ms. Ploytale added that under the National Health Security (Gold Card) scheme, eligible transgender individuals can access hormone therapy in both tablet and injection forms. Physicians decide the appropriate form based on individual factors such as age, pre-existing health conditions, and medical examination results to ensure safe and effective treatment.
These benefits extend beyond medication provision to comprehensive gender affirmation healthcare. Incorporating these services into the national health security system follows the NHSO’s standard benefit development process, which is carefully reviewed and not expedited or bypassed. The public can therefore trust in the safety and budgetary control of this system.