BANGKOK: The Thai government has unveiled a major initiative to elevate the healthcare and medical industry as a new driver of national growth, aiming to establish Thailand as a global medical hub through investment promotion, innovation and international collaboration.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (pic) presided over the opening of International Healthcare Week 2026 (IHW 2026), one of the region’s largest healthcare and medical industry events.
Held recently at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, the event brought together more than 1,200 companies, healthcare experts, investors, and policymakers from more than 100 countries to promote trade, investment, and cooperation across the healthcare value chain, spanning pharmaceuticals, medical devices, medical technology, laboratory services, and wellness.
“The challenges of today’s economy cannot be solved by one country alone. International cooperation is essential,” Anutin said, emphasizing the role of public-private partnerships in translating government policy into tangible outcomes.
Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat highlighted Thailand’s strong ties with Southeast Asia, noting opportunities for collaboration in vaccine security, medical technology, and artificial intelligence.
He said advanced technologies have already been integrated into medical schools and hospitals nationwide, with plans to expand their use further through partnerships with neighboring countries.
Pattana stressed that accessibility is the cornerstone of universal healthcare, citing Thailand’s strengths in vaccine development, knowledge transfer, and medical device manufacturing.
He added that regional cooperation will be critical to advancing healthcare innovation and ensuring equitable access.
He also pointed to medical tourism as a growing sector, with the government considering measures such as medical visas for international patients and expanded hospitality services to support recovery after treatment.
Thailand’s healthcare strategy, he added, is shifting toward prevention, with wellness and medical tourism expected to play a larger role.
He also confirmed that cannabis use will remain strictly regulated and permitted only for medical purposes under existing laws, ensuring that it is controlled and not used for recreational purposes.
Organized by Informa Markets Thailand, the event is positioned as a key platform supporting the government’s healthcare economy policy by driving economic growth, investment, and international collaboration across the healthcare value chain.
It featured four flagship exhibitions: CPHI South East Asia, World Health Expo (WHX) Bangkok, Medtec Southeast Asia, and Thailand Medical & Wellness Expo 2026.
