DPU Advances Traditional Thai Medicine to International Standards, Welcomes President of the Thai Traditional Medical Council for Academic and Health Innovation Exchange

Dhurakij Pundit University (DPU), through its College of Health and Wellness, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Surapote Wongyai,Pharm D., Dean of the College and a United Nations herbal medicine expert, together with Dr. Khanisnicha Chanpha, Associate Dean for Thai Traditional Medicine and Director of D Success Thai Traditional Medicine Clinic, welcomed Dr. Thanisorn Sriwanichphoom, President of the Thai Traditional Medical Council, and his delegation.
The visit aimed to exchange academic perspectives on clinical practice in Thai traditional medicine, professional capacity-building curricula, and innovative education management systems. The meeting was held at D Success Thai Traditional Medicine Clinic, Building 14, 1st Floor, Dhurakij Pundit University.

 

 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Surapote Wongyai,Pharm D.  stated that DPU is firmly committed to enhancing the capacity of Thai traditional medicine practitioners in response to modern healthcare demands. The focus includes strengthening clinical skills, elevating treatment standards, and promoting international recognition particularly among licensed Thai traditional medical practitioners, who play a vital role in Thailand’s healthcare system.
Accordingly, the university has continuously implemented professional upskilling and re-skilling programs for Thai traditional medicine practitioners, now entering its second cohort. These programs emphasize diagnostic competence, treatment in real clinical settings, and the correct application of classical Thai medicinal formulations, complemented by innovations in high-concentration herbal extracts that are convenient, safe, and effective while fully preserving traditional wisdom.

 

 

He further noted that DPU places strong emphasis on reviving authentic Thai medicinal formulas alongside modern extraction technologies to suit contemporary patients. To date, the university has developed more than 277 Thai herbal extract formulations, all of which have been applied in real clinical practice with clear therapeutic outcomes, proven safety, and compliance with Thai traditional medical standards.
In addition, the College prioritizes the restoration and systematization of traditional Thai massage knowledge, particularly massage along the Ten Sen Lines. This has been achieved through the development of standardized textbooks and comparative alignment with modern anatomical science, enabling effective and safe training and clinical application.

In the educational dimension, DPU has initiated a concrete reform of Thai traditional medicine education by adapting educational frameworks from modern medical training. Faculty members have been trained through Siriraj Hospital’s professional medical educator programs, with the outcomes applied across all levels of Thai traditional medicine education. This includes improvements in teaching and learning processes, assessment systems, and research supervision.
At the same time, the university continues to advance clinical research and product development in Thai traditional medicine toward international standards. Enrollment in master’s degree programs in Thai traditional medicine has steadily increased, with students from backgrounds in Thai traditional medicine, applied Thai traditional medicine, and professional certificate programs. This has resulted in research outputs that can be tangibly translated into health innovations based on Thai traditional medicine and herbal remedies, grounded in evidence-based medicine particularly in the treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

“DPU views Thai traditional medicine education as a form of health innovation that can be practically applied, creating value for patients, society, and the economy. It supports national health self-reliance, strengthens healthcare system resilience, and contributes to economic development. The College remains open to collaboration with all relevant organizations to sustainably elevate the Thai traditional medicine profession,”  Assoc. Prof. Dr. Surapote Wongyai,Pharm D. concluded.

 

 

On his part, Dr. Thanisorn Sriwanichphoom, President of the Thai Traditional Medical Council, said the visit stemmed from discussions at the National Herbal Policy Committee meeting, a high-level policy platform. Upon learning of DPU’s strong commitment to health innovation especially in herbal formulation research and the development of evidence-based Thai therapeutic procedures he welcomed the invitation to visit the College of Health and Wellness for in-depth academic exchange.

Following the visit, Dr. Thanisorn highlighted several notable innovations, including the Good Practice model of “Thai Therapeutic Massage for Brain Health Promotion (Smart Brain Massage) in 8 Minutes.” He noted that the initiative is supported by real clinical studies and systematic literature reviews, enhancing credibility and fostering interdisciplinary acceptance.
Another area of interest was the innovation in Thai herbal extraction, with discussions focusing on extraction processes and the establishment of standardized qualitative indicators for both academic evaluation and practical industrial scalability.

Dr. Thanisorn added that during the Thai Traditional Medical Council’s 2025–2028 term, the Council has adopted an open policy toward collaboration with all organizations that share aligned objectives, for the benefit of the Thai people and the nation. Based on insights gained from this visit, the Council intends to present the information and proposals to its executive subcommittees and board for consideration of future collaborative frameworks to further advance the Thai traditional medicine profession in a concrete and sustainable manner.

 

 

Source: 

College of Health and Wellness

Thai Wellness Seminar