The Ministry of Public Health is moving to draft Thailand's first Cancer Control Act, raising hopes for improved access to treatment, stronger prevention and greater equity in medical resources as the country faces a growing cancer burden and mounting healthcare costs.
The National Cancer Policy Committee, chaired by Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat, said legislation is needed to drive the national cancer plan and coordinate fragmented efforts across agencies, amid limited medical personnel and uneven distribution of equipment.
Thailand records about 140,000 new cancer cases each year, with incidence increasing by about 3% annually. Roughly 86,000 people die from the disease each year.
Mr Pattana said the legislation would integrate fragmented systems covering prevention, treatment standards, procurement, pricing mechanisms and data collection, while promoting investment in health technology to reduce illness and mortality rates.
Speaking after the committee's first meeting of the year, he said state agencies, the private sector and medical universities discussed treatment standards, advanced technology, equipment and workforce development, as well as ways to better align policies and resources nationwide.
Somchai Thanasitthichai, director of the National Cancer Institute and head of the drafting effort, said cancer treatment represents one of the heaviest burdens on Thailand's healthcare budget.
Liver cancer accounts for the highest share of new cases at 13.8%, followed by breast cancer (13.2%), colorectal cancer (13.1%), lung cancer (12.7%) and cervical cancer (3.7%).
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths at 17.4%, narrowly ahead of liver cancer at 17.35%, followed by colorectal cancer (6.66%), breast cancer (5.7%) and lymphoma (4.01%).
Health expenditure under the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has risen more than sevenfold, from 111.16 billion baht in 1994 to 834.26 billion baht in 2021.
Cancer accounts for a disproportionate share of spending. Of more than 10 billion baht allocated annually for cancer care, about 91% is spent on treatment -- averaging roughly 3,856 baht per patient -- while only 9%, or around 382 baht per case, goes to health promotion and prevention.
"Without more effective management and prevention, this will place an increasingly heavy burden on budgets and medical resources," Mr Somchai said.
While Thailand has an established national cancer plan, he said progress has been limited by weak coordination, making a legal instrument necessary to compel agencies to work towards common targets.
The proposed law would bind multiple ministries, including public health, interior, higher education, science, research and innovation, and finance, to align policies aimed at reducing new cancer cases.
One focus is prevention, particularly cervical cancer. The Department of Disease Control provides free HPV vaccination to girls aged 11-20, targeting around 10 million people.
However, only about one million have been vaccinated due to budget constraints, leaving coverage far short of herd immunity levels.
Mr Somchai said modelling shows that with an annual budget of about 2.24 billion baht, HPV vaccination coverage could reduce infection rates by 25% in the short term (2026-2030), 40% by 2035 and more than 90% by 2050, potentially saving over 37.6 billion baht in treatment costs.
The committee also addressed disparities in access to cancer treatment equipment.
Thailand has 138 radiotherapy machines, but about one-third -- around 50 -- are located in Bangkok, leaving 33 provinces without any.
On average, the country has fewer than one machine per one million people, compared with 2.2 per million in the capital, falling short of World Health Organisation recommendations.
Studies have shown that breast cancer patients in some lower northern provinces have higher mortality despite being diagnosed at earlier stages, largely due to limited access to radiotherapy.
The ministry plans to install an additional 40-50 radiotherapy machines within three to four years, prioritising areas based on population needs, travel distance and patient accessibility.
Under the proposed law, nationwide cancer data collection would be mandated across state hospitals, private hospitals and university hospitals to support evidence-based policy and pricing decisions. The bill would also allow for possible cost-sharing mechanisms to enable patients to access treatment at private hospitals at regulated prices.
In addition, the legislation is expected to establish a dedicated cancer fund, partly financed through excise or "sin" taxes, to support prevention programmes, early detection and long-term system strengthening.
The bill would also promote investment in medical technology and encourage domestic production of cancer drugs and vaccines. Mr Somchai said Thailand has strong potential to develop its own medical technology but needs a supportive ecosystem to attract international pharmaceutical partners.
"With a clear legal framework, we can strengthen prevention, improve equity in treatment across regions, and build long-term drug security," he said, adding Thailand could emerge as a regional hub for pharmaceuticals and medical technology with a coherent national strategy. The first draft of the Cancer Control Act is expected within six months.
Sirinthip Khatthiyakan, chairwoman of the Thai Cancer Society, welcomed the initiative, saying it could improve patient care across the entire cancer journey, from early detection and treatment to palliative care.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
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