Hormone therapy added to universal healthcare for LGBTQ individuals
Thailand adds hormone therapy to universal healthcare for LGBTQ individuals to prevent health risks from self-medication and reduce treatment costs.
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) has approved a budget of 145.62 million baht to provide free hormone therapy for LGBTQ individuals, a Public Health Ministry spokesman said on Sunday.
Jirapong Songwatcharaporn, deputy spokesman for the ministry and a member of the subcommittee overseeing NHSO fund management, said Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin had requested the NHSO to approve the inclusion of hormone therapy for LGBTQ individuals under the universal healthcare scheme.
Six hormone therapies approved
Jirapong said the NHSO had approved six hormone therapy items under the free universal healthcare programme:
- Leuprorelin injection
- 17 beta-estradiol tablet
- Estradiol transdermal
- Testosterone enanthate injection
- Cyproterone acetate tablet
- Spironolactone tablet
These treatments will be administered by doctors following thorough assessments of each patient’s physical and mental health, he added.
Reducing health risks and treatment costs
The provision of free hormone therapy is expected to help LGBTQ individuals save around 1,000 to 2,000 baht per month.
Jirapong explained that the move comes after many LGBTQ individuals have suffered severe health complications—some fatal—after self-medicating with feminising or masculinising hormones without medical supervision.
Health risks from unsupervised hormone use
He said common health issues from unsupervised hormone use include:
- Osteoporosis or thinning of the bones due to decreased bone mass
- Abnormal or elevated blood lipid levels
- Increased risk of serious illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain types of cancer
- Mood swings, depression, or other psychological disorders
- Formation of blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, and stroke
