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Thailand has taken a key step towards a connected national health system and a new law enabling nationwide health data sharing and the adoption of AI and telemedicine.
Recently, the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) convened the special committee on the national digital health system, which approved four measures supporting the country's universal healthcare scheme, dubbed the 30-baht scheme, and the transformation of a national digital health application.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
According to a press release, one of the measures the committee signed off on aims to integrate disparate public health information systems nationwide.
Another approved measure seeks to link health service data from MOPH facilities in the provinces with those under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. These health facilities currently feed data into the national HIE platform Health Link, MOPH's Mor Prom, and the Public Health Cloud.
A third measure focuses on connecting health service data between the MOPH and the Ministry of Labour. A data sharing agreement slated for 5 November would enable the integration of annual health checkup and influenza vaccination records of insured citizens.
Lastly, the committee endorsed a measure seeking to establish a framework for drafting a new Digital Health Act. The MOPH said Thailand still lacks a central law governing health data exchange, and existing laws do not fully cover health data transfers nor emerging technologies such as AI and telemedicine.
"The new Digital Health Act will serve as a foundational law to support secure, interoperable, innovation-ready digital health governance," Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said.
WHY IT MATTERS
The special digital health committee was set up to drive digital transformation across Thailand's health system, enabling faster, more convenient services while easing administrative load on staff. It follows the guiding principle: "Doctors not exhausted, citizens not waiting, and all services connected through technology."
THE LARGER CONTEXT
This month, over 13 key government agencies are expected to sign a national memorandum of understanding to ensure compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act. The MOPH will also propose a government directive requiring the integration of health data with the national HIE platform.
"These two systems will be connected using standardised, cyber-secure technologies with two-layer access control," Minister Pattana said. "This will enable people to receive care anywhere without carrying documents or returning to hospitals for records. Individuals can track their information through a personal health record app with personalised health guidance."
"For clinicians, integrated data improves diagnosis, reduces duplicate testing, prevents medication errors in patients with known allergies, and enhances care quality. At a system level, it strengthens data management and supports national health planning," he added.
Over the years, the Thai government has worked to connect siloed data systems across the country's public health system to enhance access, efficiency, and care delivery. In 2021, it began developing a 5G-powered medical data platform, Thailand Health Data Space 5G, marking the first phase of the national Big Data Health Information Platform. Last year, two more major components of that project, Health Link and the Public Health Cloud, went live.
Meanwhile, the MOPH earlier in October announced its plan to upgrade the Mor Prom app into a super app, called Mor Prom+, by consolidating more than 50 separate government health applications into a single platform.
The upgraded app will become the government's primary digital health app, offering convenient access to healthcare services. New services will be introduced, including online appointment setting, newborn healthID registration, follow-up for screening entitlements, an AI-powered chatbot, and chest X-ray AI. A future functionality to support international visitors seeking health information and services is also expected.
