Thailand to Train 7,000 Massage Therapists Amid Industry Shortage

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Thailand's Public Health Ministry plans to train 7,000 new massage therapists to fill a workforce gap in its 200 billion baht massage industry. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin announced on December 22 that this initiative aims to make Thai traditional massage a complementary treatment alongside conventional medicine.

 

The training program will focus on treating seven chronic conditions: office syndrome, shoulder issues, locked-finger disease, hip muscle impingement, herniated discs, paralysis, and reproductive system disorders.

 

 

Ministry Advisor Kosit Suvinitjit noted a shortage of 70,000 practitioners, including 50,000 masseurs and 20,000 therapists. With professional masseurs earning around 20,000 baht monthly, filling this gap could add 12 billion baht annually to the industry. The impact in therapy services is projected to be higher, with therapists earning about 176,000 baht monthly potentially contributing an extra 42.24 billion baht each year.

 

The initiative will also benefit related businesses such as massage parlors and herbal product manufacturers. Somsak emphasized the massage industry's vital role in making Thailand a global health hub, stating the expansion of specialized skills will boost the health economy and trust in Thai massage as a complementary treatment.

 

-- 2024-12-23