Page 271 - วารสารการแพทย์แผนไทยและการแพทย์ ทางเลือก ปีที่ 19 ฉบับที่ 2 พฤษภาคม-สิงหาคม 2564

J Thai Trad Alt Med Vol. 19 No. 2 May-Aug 2021 501

ern medicine was introduced into Thailand by continued until today as stated in the Fifth to
the group of missionaries and Western physi- Ninth (current) National Economic and Social

cians, gradually increasing and becoming well Development Plans (2002- 2006). [1-3]
accepted. In 1888, King Rama V established An office was established in 1989, ini-
Siriraj Hospital, the first Western-style hos- tially as the “Collaborating Centre for the

pital and medical school. In the beginning, Development of Thai Traditional Medicine and
both TTM and modern medical services were Pharmacy” under the Office of the Permanent
provided. The medical school also taught both of Secretary. This Centre was later upgraded

TTM and modern medical principles. to division level in 1993 as the “Institute of
However, in 1915 the teaching of TTM Thai Traditional Medicine’’ (ITTM) under the
[4]
and the provision of TTM services at Siriraj Department of Medical Services . Therefore,
Hospital were discontinued because the two the commitment of the government to promote
principals were considered incommensurable TTM as another means of health care for Thai

[5-6]
and confusing to medical students. Moreover, people was more or less established .
the TTM was viewed as inconsistent and vari- In addition to the Ministry, non-gov-
able depending on a doctor’s opinion rather ernmental organizations (NGOs) have also

than empirical evidence. played a role in the revival and development
Almost 70 years after the cessation of of TTM. In 1980, Professor Dr. Ouay Ketusingh,

TTM services and TTM education at Siriraj announced on the establishment of the “Foun-
Hospital, the revival of TTM began around dation for the Promotion of Thai Traditional
1978 after the proclamation of the Alma-Ata Medicine’’, which was officially registered in

[1]
Declaration. The World Health Organization 1982.The Foundation’s main objectives were
(WHO) urged its member countries to include to revive TTM knowledge, improve educa-
their own national traditional medicine into tional standards and the medical practice of

[7]
health service system. In Thailand, Ministry TTM and promote TTM education . In 1987,
of Public Health responded to WHO’s recom- the Ministry issued the Control of the Practice
mendation by having such a policy to promote of the Art of Healing Act B.E. 2530, allowing

medicinal plants in PHC since the time of the the graduates from the Ayurveda Vidhayalai
Fourth Health Development Plan (1977-1981). (Jivaka Komarapaj) college who passed the

Government policy regarding the promo- licensing examination to become licensed
tion of the use of medicinal plants and Thai applied-TTM practitioners. However, they can
traditional medicine in the country has been prescribe only traditional medicines and use