Thailand Signs Deal to Upgrade Sports Medicine for Athletes
We need to produce a short summary 1-2 sentences, 120-220 characters, max 240 characters. Must be English only. Should lead with what happened, then single most important detail (who, where, or when). So: "Thai health, sports ministries and
On September 30, 2026, at the Department of Medical Services conference room, the ministry held a signing ceremony for an academic cooperation agreement between the Department of Medical Services, the Department of Physical Education (Ministry of Tourism and Sports), and the Physical Therapy Council. The ceremony was presided over by Minister of Public Health Phatthana Promphat and Deputy Secretary of the Minister of Tourism and Sports Patsak Rangsiwatthanakorn. Signatories were Director‑General of the Department of Medical Services Natthapong Wongwiwat and Director‑General of the Department of Physical Education Mongkol Wimolrat, with witnesses Adisak Ngam‑jonwiwat, director of Lerdsin Hospital, and Atcharat Yongthawi, director of the Sports Science Division. For the agreement with the Physical Therapy Council, the signatories were Natthapong Wongwiwat and Professor Prachit Janewathanakul, president of the council, witnessed by Adisak Ngam‑jonwiwat and council member Thanawat Prijatkorn.\n\nMinister Phatthana Promphat said the Ministry of Public Health prioritises developing standardized medical services that are continuously linked, and this cooperation integrates expertise to care for athletes from assessment through treatment and rehabilitation, ensuring a safe return to life or sport. Deputy Secretary Patsak Rangsiwatthanakorn noted that promoting sports must go hand‑in‑hand with athlete health and safety; the cooperation links medical services with sports science and rehabilitation, creates emergency services for injured athletes, and strengthens the capacities of physical‑education teachers, coaches, and related personnel in first aid, injury prevention, and basic life support.\n\nDirector‑General Mongkol Wimolrat added that developing athletes’ excellence requires health and physical‑performance systems working alongside training, covering health promotion, injury prevention, treatment, and proper rehabilitation to enable a safe return, reduce re‑injury risk, and maximise potential. Professor Prachit Janewathanakul said the cooperation aims to develop service standards and competence of sports physical‑therapy personnel, promote knowledge exchange, academic conferences, and studies.
