Thailand allocates millions to provide HRT for 200,000 trans citizens

During its budget planning for 2025, the National Health Security Board of Thailand approved 145.63 million baht (over €4 million) to provide health services, including hormone therapy, for trans citizens.

This image shows the Thai flag Thailand’s Public Health Ministry has allocated millions of baht to provide hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to approximately 200,000 trans people
Image: img sourced via Wikimedia commons

Thailand’s Public Health Ministry has allocated millions of baht to provide hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to approximately 200,000 trans people. 

During its budget planning for 2025, the National Health Security Board of Thailand approved 145.63 million baht, which is the equivalent of over €4 million, to provide health services, including hormone therapy, for its trans citizens. Previously, trans people had to bear the cost of hormone therapy themselves, which restricted access for many and led to health risks when hormones were purchased and used without medical guidance.

This latest measure by the government, as reported by the Bangkok Post, aims to improve access to safe, medically supervised gender-affirming care for the gender-diverse community. Thailand’s exact data on its transgender population remains unclear. While estimates suggest around 314,808 trans people live in the country, systematic, population-representative studies are lacking.

Thailand’s commitment to equality extends beyond HRT provision. The country is ranked number one on the Asia Equality Network and made headlines recently as it legalised same-sex marriage. The history-making move made the country the first in Southeast Asia to achieve marriage equality, with over 1,000 LGBTQ+ couples married on the first day of the law’s enactment. 

Despite Thailand’s positive strides, significant challenges remain. Human Rights Watch reported in 2021 that trans people in Thailand are still unable to obtain legal documentation reflecting their affirmed gender. Additionally, systemic barriers persist in healthcare, education, employment, and freedom of movement, with trans individuals often facing widespread discrimination and stigma.  

The Asia Pacific Transgender Network is one of the organisations working to combat these issues. It is a regional advocacy group that highlights the importance of empowering trans and gender-diverse people to organise and campaign for issues such as legal gender recognition, healthcare, societal attitudes, stigma and violence, and rights to education, social protection, and freedom of movement.

© 2025 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.

Support GCN

GCN is a free, vital resource for Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community since 1988.

GCN is a trading name of National LGBT Federation CLG, a registered charity - Charity Number: 20034580.

GCN relies on the generous support of the community and allies to sustain the crucial work that we do. Producing GCN is costly, and, in an industry which has been hugely impacted by rising costs, we need your support to help sustain and grow this vital resource.

Supporting GCN for as little as €1.99 per month will help us continue our work as Ireland’s free, independent LGBTQ+ media.

0 comments. Please sign in to comment.