Thailand Moves to Unify National Health Data Systems

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) recently convened the special committee on the national digital health system, which approved four key measures aimed at supporting the country’s universal healthcare scheme and advancing the national digital health application.

Thailand is taking a major step toward a connected national health system, approving measures to integrate public health data and draft a Digital Health Act that enables nationwide health data sharing, AI adoption, and telemedicine services.

The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) recently convened the special committee on the national digital health system, which approved four key measures aimed at supporting the country’s universal healthcare scheme and advancing the national digital health application.

One measure focuses on integrating disparate public health information systems nationwide. Another seeks to link health data from MOPH provincial facilities with those under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, feeding into the national Health Information Exchange (HIE) platform, Health Link, MOPH’s Mor Prom app, and the Public Health Cloud.

A third measure targets data sharing between the MOPH and Ministry of Labour, enabling integration of annual health checkups and influenza vaccination records of insured citizens under a data-sharing agreement effective from November 5.

The fourth measure establishes a framework for drafting the Digital Health Act. Thailand currently lacks a central law governing health data exchange, leaving gaps in oversight for emerging technologies like AI and telemedicine. “The new Digital Health Act will serve as a foundational law to support secure, interoperable, innovation-ready digital health governance,” said Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat.

The committee aims to drive digital transformation, easing administrative workloads while providing faster, more convenient healthcare. Over 13 government agencies are expected to sign a national memorandum of understanding this month to comply with the Personal Data Protection Act, and the MOPH plans a directive to integrate health data into the national HIE platform.

Integrated systems will allow patients to access care without carrying documents, while clinicians benefit from improved diagnosis, reduced duplicate testing, and fewer medication errors. At the system level, it will enhance data management and support national health planning.

Thailand has been gradually connecting siloed health systems over the years, including launching the 5G-powered Thailand Health Data Space in 2021 and rolling out Health Link and the Public Health Cloud last year. The Mor Prom app is also being upgraded to Mor Prom+, consolidating over 50 government health apps into a single platform with AI-powered services, online appointments, newborn health ID registration, and international patient support.

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