Thammasat University and 3 healthcare organizations have offered the Master of Thai Traditional Medicine Clinic Program for the first time in Thailand for tertiary hospitals.

Assoc.Prof. Gasinee Witoonchart, Rector of Thammasat University said that Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University had provided the Bachelor of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine Program for 15 years and it was highly successful and nationally recognized. Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) represented by the Department of Thai Traditional Medicine and Alternative Medicine, Public Health Office 5 and Ratchaburi Hospital in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University have offered the ‘Master of Thai Traditional Medicine Clinic Program’ for the first time in Thailand.

This program has been carried out under the MOU of the “Pilot of clinical education development for Thai traditional medical profession to support the operations in tertiary healthcare services” on March 18, 2021 between 4 organizations: Thammasat University, Department of Thai Traditional Medicine and Alternative Medicine, Public Health Office 5 and Ratchaburi Hospital.

Assoc. Prof. Gasinee said that Thailand’s first pilot project of ‘Master of Thai Traditional Medicine Clinic Program’ would help enable the public health personnel to apply the knowledge between Thai traditional and conventional medicine. Importantly, it would also focus on the advanced operational skill in large or tertiary hospitals. “We can say that this program will produce modernized Thai traditional doctors who will be able to collaborate interprofessionally in tertiary hospitals with skills for knowledge development and further evidence-based clinical research in Thai traditional medicine.” Said Assoc. Prof. Gasinee.

Assoc. Prof. Arunporn Itharat from the Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, “2019 SEM AWARD” winner in the research and communal herb usage promotion category awarded by Dr. Sem Pringpuangkeo Foundation, as a promoter of the pilot program, said that Ratchaburi Hospital was a large hospital with a great advantage of fund for Thai traditional medicine. The hospital’s management always had a good vision focusing on Thai traditional medicine. Ratchaburi Hospital would be developed as Thailand’s center of excellence in Thai traditional medicine. The collaboration with Ratchaburi Hospital would therefore fulfil the pilot project in every aspect. Importantly, students would be able to share, learn and get on-the-job training.

Dr. Amphon Benchapolpitak, MD., Director-General of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine said that this collaboration will produce competent Thai traditional medical personnel who would be able to manage patients. The program would serve as a prototype for many universities in developing the educational system of Thai traditional medicine which will further strengthen the public health system of Thailand.