RESUMO
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy located in the central and southern part in Southeast Asia. It mainly implements the civil service insurance plan, the social insurance plan and the "Thai 30" plan, and the government bears the main health expenditures. The Thai traditional and alternative medicine system includes Thai traditional medicine, indigenous medicine and alternative medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) belongs to the category of alternative medicine. Currently, Thai traditional medicine and Chinese acupuncture have been included in medical insurance. With Thailand’s approval of doctors to use Chinese medicine to treat diseases published (Notification No.1 of BE 2543), a series of activities such as the establishment of national TCM center, the certification of TCM doctors, and the set of TCM courses and training have promoted TCM development in Thailand. However, the application of Chinese herbal medicine is restricted by Thai medicine laws; the practical skills of acupuncture and moxibustion is insufficient; and the TCM education is not systematic and complete. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out extensive and continuous publicity in the future to promote policy and legislative support; to strengthen research and development of Chinese patent medicine on popular diseases in Thailand and promote localization; to establish a special practice training center to improve acupuncture clinical operation capacity; to add and refine the content of TCM regarding university education system as well as short-term training; and to encourage cooperation between China and Thailand in talent exchanges and scientific researches, promoting the development of TCM in Thailand.