Pharmacies to serve private hospital patients; FDA opens registration Oct 14
FDA to open registration on Oct 14 for pharmacies wishing to serve private hospital patients with prescriptions, aiming to cut medical costs and boost standards.
- A new initiative will allow patients from private hospitals to purchase prescribed medicines from external pharmacies to reduce their medical costs.
- The FDA will open a voluntary online registration for pharmacies to participate in this program starting October 14, 2025.
- Registered pharmacies must meet five key criteria, including accurate dispensing and coordination with hospitals, to be officially recommended and ensure patient safety.
- The program aims to create a verified list of pharmacies equipped to handle prescriptions, improving service standards and patient confidence.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in cooperation with the Department of Internal Trade, the Department of Health Service Support, and the Private Hospital Association, has launched a new initiative allowing patients from private hospitals to buy prescribed medicines from external pharmacies to help reduce medical expenses.
Starting October 14, 2025, pharmacies that are ready to participate can voluntarily register online through the FDA’s new digital platform. The programme aims to enhance confidence, improve service standards, and provide the public with verified options for purchasing medicines under professional supervision.
According to the FDA, Thailand has nearly 20,000 pharmacies nationwide, but not all are equally prepared to dispense medicines based on prescriptions. Some pharmacies have never handled prescriptions before, which may lead to inconvenience or poor service for patients.
To address this, the FDA and its partners agreed to create a registration and recommendation system identifying pharmacies that are fully equipped to handle prescription dispensing, ensuring patients receive timely, safe, and reliable service.
Registered pharmacies must meet five key criteria
Pharmacies joining the scheme must demonstrate readiness in at least five areas:
- Ability to supply medicines accurately and completely according to prescriptions.
- Provision of clear contact information for inquiries and patient communication.
- Coordination with private hospitals in case of prescription-related issues.
- Compliance with professional standards to ensure patient confidence.
- Commitment to continuous service improvement, under the supervision of professional associations and councils.
Registration serves three main purposes:
- To express commitment to providing standardised prescription services.
- To give professional bodies data for monitoring and targeted support.
- To consent to limited data disclosure, ensuring transparency and patient benefit.
Pharmacies can register anytime, anywhere via the FDA’s online system, with the process expected to take no more than five minutes.
Participation voluntary but encouraged
The FDA clarified that non-registered pharmacies can still fill prescriptions as usual, but are encouraged to prepare adequately to ensure fair pricing and quality service for patients.
Registered pharmacies may also offer telepharmacy services as an optional convenience, provided they strictly comply with FDA and Pharmacy Council regulations.
The FDA emphasised that the initiative is part of a broader effort to improve access to affordable, safe, and standardised healthcare while empowering patients to make informed choices outside hospital systems.
