The sustainable development goal number 3, has a vision where no one is left behind in health as a privilege. It requires a reduction of both maternal and child deaths, eliminating epidemics, and managing communicable and non-communicable diseases. The goal also focuses on mental health, road safety, reproductive services and prevention of substance abuse. Of similar importance are wider system level targets such as universal health coverage, robust health financing, health workforce, and preparedness to global health risks. A combination of all these targets provides a complete structure to achieve well-being throughout all stages of life and within all communities.

Thailand’s commitment to SDG 3 is reflected in its focus on maternal and child health, disease prevention, mental health, healthcare access, and environmental well-being. With strong foundations in universal health coverage, emergency preparedness, and public health education, the country continues to address a wide range of health priorities. Ranked 43rd globally on the 2025 SDG Index with a score of 75.34, Thailand demonstrates steady progress toward inclusive, resilient, and sustainable health systems.

The vision is clear, but what does the journey look like? Let’s have a look

Seal, Stop, Safe Campaign: This campaign was launched in February 2025. Seal-Stop-Safe launched in February 2025 is a government-wide campaign aimed at preventing drug abuse and drug trafficking in Thailand. The 51 high-risk districts in 14 provinces neighbouring are targeted by the campaign. In only two months (February, March) it resulted into the seizure of more than 27 tonnes of illegal drug such as: Almost 30 million of methamphetamine pills, 126 kg of Heroine and more than 4400 kg crystal meth and ketamine. Officials seized assets associated with drug operations in an amount of 1.9 billion baht as well. Cutting of the electricity, fuel and internet connection to locations involved in the production and trafficking of drugs is a three-cuts strategy used by the operation to essentially weaken the infrastructure of the criminals. At the same time, the government helps past addicts with rehabilitation and professional training in order to stabilize in a long-term perspective. Moving from punishment to treatment is a technique they have been implementing; however, law enforcement remains uncompromised.

The Maternal and Child Health Handbook: This Program is one of the initiatives undertaken by Thailand to help in maternal and child health. The handbook is distributed during the first antenatal appointment where it contains the most important information on care during pregnancy, nutrition, danger signs, immunization, family planning, and birth of the newborn baby. Not only does this particular instrument aid in monitoring the health progression made by mothers but also enhances communication amongst healthcare personnel and families. The program is supplemented with training of health volunteers in the villages, and outreach on underserved locations, and it contributes significantly to the reduction of maternal and child mortality. The number of maternal deaths has reduced to approximately 29 deaths out of the total birth cases compared to the 44 deaths per 100,000 live births experienced in the year 2000. Likewise, the number of under-five mortality reduced by about 8 per 1,000 live births in 2000 to about 20 per 1,000.

End AIDS Strategy(2017-30): The approach centres on expanding access to HIV testing, including self-testing, ensuring immediate antiretroviral treatment upon diagnosis, and making Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) widely available, especially to high-risk groups. Integration of these services into Universal Health Coverage has helped increase treatment coverage and achieve a viral suppression rate above 95%. Thailand also emphasizes community-led prevention and strong partnerships with civil society to reach vulnerable populations and reduce stigma. These measures significantly cut down new infections, curb the community viral load, and move the country closer to ending the epidemic.

Operational Plan to End Tuberculosis Phase 2(2023-27): This initiative steps up its efforts to mitigate the TB burden using technology powered interventions. These consist of AI-supported chest X-ray reading, quick molecular test such as GeneXpert and digital tracking systems to track treatment. It also puts stress on cross-border cooperation, particularly high-risk regions. These advancements enhance the community foundation of Phase 1, and intend to decrease the occurrence of missed cases by a significant amount, and to decrease TB in the high-prevalence countries to 89/100,000 individuals by 2027, supporting the overall SDG 3.3 goal of eliminating TB by 2030.

Tor-Tuem-Jai App: In order to facilitate mental health, Thailand initiated the program called Tor-Tuem-Jai, a free web-based mental screening and care facility in 2025. In several weeks, it gained more than 6 million users and was used to detect people who were likely to become depressed, commit suicide and experience stress disorders. Together with this, the government had 37 mental health counselling centers and were scheduled to increase the centers to 340 by the end of 2025. Thailand has also proclaimed that May is a month of mind, with a push to discuss mental health matters nationally. Grassroot-level interventions such as training Village Health Volunteers to conduct early screening of mental wellness and the implementation of the Positive Parenting Program also reinforce community-based mental wellness interventions. Screened over 6 million users, identifying over 400,000 individuals needing further mental health support. The launch of 37 mental health centers across provinces improved local access, and early screenings by Village Health Volunteers led to a 15% rise in early intervention cases.

Universal Coverage Scheme: Thailand has made considerable steps towards increasing access to sexual and reproductive health services. The government gives free long-acting contraceptives, countrywide HPV vaccinations, and preventative antenatal care through its universal health program. Young people have access to youth friendly clinics where information is confidential and, there are also youth friendly health funds at the community level in the form of tambon health funds that assist in financing local health services. More than 90 percent of those of women in the reproductive ages are now using modern contraceptives, coverage of antenatal care is now over 95 percent and six out of 10 women in the cervical cancer screening target age are also covered.

Thailand Road Safety Master Plan: Thailand has made robust efforts to achieve road safety and minimize deaths caused by traffic involving road accidents which have remained among the whopping number in the globe. In 2012, the fatalities caused by road accidents in the country were about 26000. The country aspires to lower fatalities to 12 out of 100,000 populations by 2027 by proceeding with such interventions as the Thailand Road Safety Master Plan (2022-2027). Some of the measures under this plan are enforcement of helmet use compliance, awareness creation and increasing child safety seats and seatbelts. Furthermore, a recent parliamentary road safety committee is currently trying to safeguard the vulnerable sectors of road users such as the pedestrians and the motorcyclists. With the aim of aiding this, Bangkok has developed AI-enabled CCTV cameras in 15 pilot districts to automatically identify and monitor a variety of traffic offenses including riding on footpaths. The system detects real-time license plates sending the information directly to the local authorities, guaranteeing non-biased application of the traffic regulations and particularly the installment of a 2,000-baht fine for violating the pavement regulations. These efforts are expected to lower high-risk behavior, which in turn can significantly reduce fatalities and injuries, particularly among motorcyclists and pedestrians—the groups most affected in Thailand’s road crash statistics.

The Gold Card Scheme: The Thailand experience of path toward a universal coverage initiated with the introduction of Gold Card scheme in 2002. Also commonly known as the 30-Baht Scheme, it provides almost all the population with access to essential health services at minimum or no charge at all. The scheme is tax-paid and administered by the National Health Security Office (NHSO) and covers such services as outpatient care, hospitalisation, and basic health needs. Latest developments are the One ID Card: Access Anywhere program which enables patients in that country to get treated anywhere in the country utilizing just his national ID without having to have any referrals. Thailand sustains affordable, high-quality, and accessible treatment using regular reviews of the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and assistance of the Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP).

 Chemical Safety Program under the Department of Industrial Works Thailand: This structure, under Hazardous Substances Act controls more than 1,500 substances according to their risk. Regulated registration and licensing is a fundamental aspect- the producers, importers and handlers of Type 2 and Type 3 substances are required to obtain approvals and state complete chemical composition commonly in the form of a 100% ingredient disclosure system. This facilitates an in-depth risk evaluation and regulation. Facilities handling the high risk chemicals are compelled to appoint safety officers who are already trained and regular inspection conducted on them. Such combined actions are supposed to stop leakage, guarantee the safety of the handling as well as enhance environmental health and reduce the number of deaths\. Laws are also being updated so as to keep the system in other bog salient with the safety standards around the world.

The Tobacco Control Act: Thailand has introduced one of the robust measures of tobacco control in Asia based on the Tobacco Products Control Act B.E. 2560 (2017. This piece of legislation prohibits any publicity, advertisement and sponsorship of any kind of tobacco as well as plain packaging and graphic warnings on 85 per cent of the cigarette packets making Thailand the first nation in Asia to mandate this. The use of smoking is also not allowed that comes in form of outdoor and indoor smoking in the markets, temples and public transport. There are prohibitions against selling to anyone under 20 years of age and the tobacco distributors are not permitted to sell in single sticks of tobacco but in standard size packs. All sales of tobacco are required to be licensed and increased excise taxes have contributed to lessen its demand. The presence of these laws, which have been strictly enforced by the authorities of the overall public health and aided by such organizations as ASH Thailand, has led to a considerable reduction in smoking, with the rates changing form 23 percent in 2001 to approximately 17 percent in 2021, which has been gradual but steady progress.

Accordance with the Doha Declaration: The Doha Declaration affirms that developing countries can prioritize public health over patent rights, allowing access to affordable medicines through measures like compulsory licensing—a provision Thailand has actively used to expand access to life-saving drugs.

 Thailand is also a strong advocate of vaccine and necessary medicine production and fair distribution in accordance with the Doha Declaration. Thailand manufactures cheap and accessible generic drugs and vaccines through Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) that is not only affordable but also accessible to some diseases such as HIV, TB, and influenza. In order to meet the health workforce shortages, the government has heightened investments in medical training, introduced rural recruitment programs and expanded nurse and midwifery training, especially in less served regions. In the area of preparedness, Thailand has enhanced its epidemic surveillance system functions, and risk response systems through Emergency Operations Center (eoc) of the Ministry of Public Health. These projects improve the ability of Thailand to identify, act upon and control both national and international health issues, which are essential during such pandemics as COVID-19.

The SDG 3 of good health and well-being in Thailand calls attention to the fact that good health can be realized not only through curing diseases; good health should be seen as giving individuals safety, dignity, and opportunity at all times of life. Thailand seeks issues on maternal care, mental health issues to substance abuse prevention to road safety; all these areas suggest a thorough approach to the issue of public health in the country. A sustainable well-being is not constructed only in hospitals, the country reveals. It is constructed in homes, among communities, and through policies; this is because by focusing on inclusive access, innovative technology, local engagement, and global cooperation, more people have found what it takes to create sustainable well-being. Challenges ahead should not be ruled out but the story of Thailand gives a positive, strong, and people-centered vision of healthy choices and lifestyles.