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Thailand’s Public Health Ministry has committed 145.63 million baht ($6.3 million NZD) to provide hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for 200,000 transgender individuals, marking a major step in supporting gender-affirming healthcare.

Renowned as an LGBTQ+-friendly destination, Thailand has long been recognised for its welcoming stance toward the transgender community. With the country recently legalising equal marriage, the government is further strengthening its commitment to LGBTQ+ rights by expanding access to gender-affirming medical care.

Deputy government spokesperson Anukool Pruksanusak acknowledged the growing acceptance of trans and non-binary individuals in Thailand, as reported by the Bangkok Post. He highlighted that many may choose to undergo gender-affirming treatments like HRT as part of their transition.

The funding, approved by the National Health Security Board as part of Thailand’s 2025 budget, will support around 200,000 trans people out of an estimated 314,000 trans individuals in the country, according to the Asia Pacific Transgender Network.

In addition to HRT, Pruksanusak noted that the National Health Security Office (NHSO) ensures trans citizens have equal access to medical care, including treatment, disease prevention, and rehabilitation—the same healthcare rights as the rest of the population.

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Previously, trans people in Thailand had to privately fund their own gender-affirming treatments, leading to barriers in access and increased health risks as some resorted to using unsupervised HRT.

Despite Thailand’s reputation for LGBTQ+ inclusivity, significant legal barriers remain. According to a 2021 Human Rights Watch report, trans individuals cannot obtain legal documentation reflecting their gender identity. The report also highlighted ongoing challenges in healthcare, education, employment, and non-discrimination.

This new government-funded initiative is a major milestone in addressing healthcare disparities and supporting trans rights in Thailand, but activists continue to push for further legal recognition and protections.

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