This is a profile of Prof. Dr. Prawase Wasi, also known as 'Doctor Prawase,' a wise physician and senior citizen leader who held prominent roles across multiple fields and passed away peacefully at the age of 93.
On 11 Jan 2026, it was reported that Dr. Bancha Pongpanich, a board member and secretary of the Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives Foundation (Suankhoke Bangkok), posted on his personal Facebook at 23:33 on 10 Jan the news that Prof. Dr. Prawase Wasi passed away peacefully at age 93.
Prof. Dr. Prawase Wasi, or Doctor Prawase, was born on 5 August 1932 on the banks of the Kwae Noi River, Ko Samrong Subdistrict, Mueang Kanchanaburi District, Kanchanaburi Province. He was the fourth child of Mr. Khlai and Mrs. Kim Wasi.
Prof. Dr. Prawase Wasi was a highly skilled and renowned Thai physician, public health academic, education scholar, supporter of research addressing life development issues, discoverer of the genetic mechanism of thalassemia, advocate for rural doctors, and founder of independent organizations under the Ministry of Public Health such as the National Health Security Office (NHSO), ThaiHealth Promotion Foundation, Health Systems Research Institute, Healthcare Accreditation Institute, National Institute for Emergency Medicine, National Health Commission Office, as well as being an honorary member of the Royal Institute and council member for Mahidol University, Thammasat University, Srinakharinwirot University, and a respected senior citizen leader.
Regarding his education, Prof. Dr. Prawase Wasi studied at Wat Nuea School during childhood, attended Prachaban School in Ko Samrong Subdistrict for primary education, studied lower secondary at Wisuttharangsi School, and until 1947 entered upper secondary at Triam Udom Suksa School. In 1949, he passed the entrance exam to study pre-medical at Chulalongkorn University and continued medical studies at Siriraj Hospital, graduating in 1955 with a first-class honors medical degree and a gold medal for ranking first throughout the course. Subsequently, in 1960, he earned a doctoral degree from the University of Colorado Medical School in Denver, USA, and the following year (1961), he graduated from the Department of Human Genetics at the University of London, UK.
After completing his studies in the UK, he was appointed as a lecturer for medical students and residents at Siriraj Medical School, Mahidol University, advancing from assistant professor to associate professor, then full professor, and special professor, until he was appointed a full professor in 1976.
In research, he received grants from the Ministry of Public Health and the Chinese Medical Board to study the natural characteristics of blood related to hereditary red blood cell disorders causing thalassemia anemia and discovered prevention and treatment methods. His research was widely accepted, leading to invitations to lecture at universities and research institutes on almost every continent worldwide. His academic articles were published in over 150 international journals, and he authored hematology textbooks and manuals. He also received research funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.