Thai Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin has dismissed claims that Cambodian patients will stop seeking treatment in Thai hospitals, despite new figures revealing Thailand shouldered over 277 baht million in uncollected medical costs from Cambodian border patients last year, contributing to a nationwide burden of over 2.3 billion baht.

A new report from the National Economic and Social Development Council highlights a concerning surge in alcohol consumption across Thailand, alongside a worrying trend of younger people starting smoking, despite a slight overall drop in tobacco use.