Roche Thailand Marks 55 Years of Advancing Healthcare, Unites Public and Private Sector Leaders to Accelerate Nation’s Transformation into a Premium and Sustainable Global Health Hub

● Driving Advanced Care: Roche Thailand champions medical innovation and a resilient healthcare ecosystem to expand access to precision medicine, supporting Thailand’s transition from a cost-driven destination to a premium global health hub powered by innovation and quality.

● Strengthening Infrastructure: The Department of Health Service Support (HSS) advances healthcare infrastructure, quality standards, and proactive public-private partnerships (PPPs) to reinforce nation-branding efforts and position Thailand as a trusted global health destination.

● Capturing Economic Opportunities: The Thai Medical and Wellness Tourism Association (TMWTA) highlights strategic opportunities to attract high-value, long-stay international premium travelers, establishing a value-creation ecosystem that directly benefits local communities.

● Validating Medical Excellence: A leading medical oncologist underscores growing international confidence in Thailand’s clinical capabilities, specialized expertise, and world-class quality of care.

Bangkok, Thailand – June 11, 2026: Roche Thailand, a global leader in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, commemorated its 55th anniversary in Thailand by bringing together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to outline a strategic roadmap aimed at reinforcing the nation’s

healthcare ecosystem. Developed in collaboration with the Department of Health Service

Support (HSS) under the Ministry of Public Health, the Thai Medical and Wellness Tourism

Association (TMWTA), and leading medical experts, this collective initiative accelerates the

country’s transformation into a Premium and Sustainable Global Health Hub built upon medical excellence, advanced innovation, long-term sustainability, and patient-centered care.

Dr. Akom Praditsuwan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Health Service Support (HSS), Ministry of Public Health, highlighted the government’s pivotal role in solidifying healthcare foundations and fostering international trust. “The Department of Health Service Support is deeply committed to strengthening healthcare infrastructure, elevating medical facility standards, and cultivating a resilient ecosystem that supports sustainable, international-level growth. As the regulatory body responsible for overseeing and advancing healthcare service standards, we aim to create an enabling environment for the long-term development of Thailand’s healthcare sector. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) will serve as a key accelerator of this resilience, reinforcing our nation-branding efforts and solidifying Thailand’s reputation as a safe, world-class health destination defined by the highest standards of quality and care.”

Dr. Matthew Coates, General Manager of Roche Thailand, reaffirmed the company’s enduring commitment on its 55th anniversary and shared critical insights on bridging affordability gaps to shape the future of medicine. “Thailand already possesses robust healthcare foundations, characterized by a well-developed medical infrastructure, world-class hospitals, advanced diagnostic equipment, and highly skilled medical professionals. However, evolving into a Premium and Sustainable Global Health Hub requires looking beyond infrastructure alone; it necessitates the seamless integration of cutting-edge innovation. This ensures patients gain access to precise diagnostics and targeted therapies at the earliest possible stage, significantly improving clinical outcomes and increasing the potential for a definitive cure.”

Dr. Coates further emphasized that breakthroughs lose their value if they fail to reach the individuals who need them most. “Innovation is meaningless if it remains inaccessible due to affordability barriers or is left sitting on a shelf. At Roche, patient access to treatment is the ultimate measure of success for any medical breakthrough. This is why we believe precision medicine, combined with comprehensive genomic profiling, is an absolute game-changer for both patient outcomes and macroeconomic healthcare sustainability. Delivering the right treatment to the right patient at the exact right time minimizes the waste of resources on ineffective therapies, optimizes national healthcare budgets, and shifts the paradigm from costly, late-stage interventions to early-stage, curative care. In the long run, this strategic approach ensures highly sustainable healthcare spending for society.”

To transition toward this proactive model, Dr. Coates outlined two core priorities designed to elevate public-private partnerships beyond traditional buyer-supplier relationships into shared-outcome alliances:

• The Implementation of Managed Entry Agreements (MEAs): Fostering sustainable financing models through MEAs expands patient access to innovative, life-saving therapies while allowing public healthcare systems to manage national budgets predictably and effectively.

• Enhancing Attractiveness for Global Clinical Trials: Roche is working intimately with government entities to upgrade Thailand’s clinical research ecosystem. Beyond medical advancement, clinical trials offer an immense economic multiplier: for every 1 Baht invested in clinical research, an estimated 2.9 Baht is generated in economic returns back into the country. Expanding these activities accelerates early access to pipeline innovations and aids in building a comprehensive National Early Detection Ecosystem for critical diseases such as liver and breast cancers.

Dr. Vigrom Jennetisin, Medical Oncologist and Chemotherapy Specialist, and founder of the ‘Cancer Doctor Thailand’ (Moh-Nay) Facebook page, substantiated Thailand's readiness from a clinical perspective. “Thailand boasts an exceptionally qualified healthcare workforce and advanced clinical capabilities. In my direct experience, an increasing number of international patients deliberately choose Thailand because they place absolute trust in the clinical expertise and care standards of Thai physicians. This profound clinical reputation serves as an invaluable competitive advantage as the country transitions away from cost-driven medical tourism toward a premium health model.

“Crucially,” Dr. Vigrom added, “the essence of modern healthcare lies in shifting mindsets from treating illness to actively cultivating wellness. Launching proactive screening campaigns through digital platforms breaks down barriers to health literacy, enabling both Thai citizens and international guests to obtain accurate medical data seamlessly. Medical professionals must act as active educators to empower individuals, building a healthier society from the inside out. This proactive digital engagement directly mirrors the principles of early disease detection and precision medicine that Roche and its partners are championing.”

Addressing the economic landscape, Dr. Anusak Kongmalai, President of the Thai Medical and Wellness Tourism Association (TMWTA) and former Senator, illustrated the vast financial opportunities awaiting the country. “According to global industry projections, the global wellness economy is poised to expand exponentially from 6.8 trillion USD in 2024 to 9.8 trillion USD by 2029, reflecting a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%. In an era of rising travel costs, Thailand is uniquely positioned to capture high-net-worth premium travelers who choose to 'Travel Less, Stay Longer, and Spend More.' These individuals specifically seek holistic medical and wellness experiences, spending 30% to 50% more per trip than conventional tourists. Through our 4-year strategic roadmap (2026–2029) and the establishment of the 'Thailand Wellness Corridor' connecting Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, the association aims to attract 2 to 3 million premium international patients and wellness guests annually. This will inject hundreds of billions of Baht back into the country and directly enrich local businesses and economic foundations.”

Later that evening, Roche Thailand hosted a high-level visionary forum titled “Visioning Sustainable Healthcare: Empowering Healthcare for Global Growth,” bringing together more than 60 prominent public health leaders, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. The forum was honored by the presence of distinguished keynote speakers and panelists, including Mr. Pattana Promphat, Minister of Public Health; Dr. Ekachai Peansriwachara, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health; and Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency (NIA). The leaders shared strategic insights on advancing smart healthcare systems, accelerating medical innovation, and fostering high-value economic growth through global collaborations. On this auspicious occasion, Ms. Christine Löw, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland in Thailand, also attended to congratulate Roche Thailand on its 55th anniversary, reaffirming the strong bilateral ties and shared commitment between Switzerland and Thailand in advancing healthcare innovation.

The 55th-anniversary press conference and leadership forum served as a premier strategic platform showcasing the power of a synergistic partnership across Thailand’s healthcare ecosystem. Led by Roche Thailand as the core driving force, this landmark initiative united government authorities, healthcare professionals, and industry associations in a collective mission to transform the nation’s healthcare landscape. By integrating advanced medical innovation, dismantling barriers to treatment access, and accelerating a shift toward proactive care, this collaboration is fully poised to “Empower Healthcare for Thai People and Drive Global Economic Growth,” securing a sustainable future and solidifying Thailand’s positioning on the global stage.