As Thailand strengthens its position as a global medical hub, the healthcare and life sciences sector is seeing rapid transformation. From increasing foreign investment to the rise of digital health solutions, the industry is evolving in ways that present both opportunities and challenges for businesses looking to enter or expand in the Thai market.
Baker McKenzie Thailand has been at the forefront of guiding clients through these processes. In this discussion, Peerapan Tungsuwan, Partner at Baker McKenzie Thailand, shares insights into key trends that are shaping the healthcare industry, the role of Japanese investors, and how legal frameworks can support the future of healthcare in Thailand.
Bridges: Thailand is positioning itself as a global Medical Hub, with a strong focus on healthcare innovation and investment. How do you see this shaping M&A activity in the healthcare and life sciences sector, particularly for international investors?
Tungsuwan: For this purpose, we want to focus on two sectors: 1) medical facilities; and 2) pharmaceuticals and medical devices. For the former, investments and acquisitions of clinics have been very active, particularly by large domestic conglomerates who are acquiring specialty clinics to boost their overall services. For pharmaceuticals and medical devices, we have relatively more foreign investors and buyers in this space, including distributors buying pharma portfolios. There have been active collaborations with digital/tech companies in the medical devices industry for the delivery of healthcare/pharmaceuticals, as digital has become one of the core focuses of this sector.
Additionally, due to our world-class hospitals and medical facilities with advanced medical technology, Thailand stands out as a top destination for medical tourism. This leads to an uptick in demand and opportunities for investors to sell high-tech medical devices and technology to hospitals. There is room for new players in the area of technology that relates to efficiency, and those will allow wider access to good quality healthcare at more affordable prices.
As head of Baker McKenzie’s Asia-Pacific Healthcare Industry Group, what key legal and regulatory trends are impacting cross-border transactions in Thailand’s healthcare sector, and how should businesses navigate these complexities?
Thailand, as part of the global market and supply chains in the healthcare industry, continues to see and work in various cross-border transactions, most of which are very complex due to, among other things, the nature of the transactions and requirements under various countries’ domestic laws and market practices. These cross-border transactions are complicated in themselves.
- Strategic portfolio optimization by life sciences companies: Healthcare organizations continue to reassess their product lines, divest non-core assets, and focus on reinvesting in areas that bolster supply chain resilience and operational flexibility.
- Innovative collaborations: The demand for complex therapies and emerging product areas is driving the need for more innovative collaboration structures, partnerships, and licensing agreements.
- Advancements in Digital Health and AI technologies: The integration of digital solutions continues to transform patient care and service delivery. Companies are looking to AI for an increasing range of tasks; however, regulation is lagging. Until standardized, companies should adopt ethical governance frameworks to guide AI adoption.
- Safeguarding value is essential: Prioritizing intellectual property protection and managing liability to prevent disputes is crucial, especially with partnerships between digital players, major pharmaceutical companies, and public entities.
- Focus on supply chain resilience: In response to recent global disruptions, companies should invest in strengthening their supply chains to ensure stability and continuity.
Addressing the complexities of regulatory, competitive, and compliance issues demands a forward-thinking strategy. Partnering with a knowledgeable local legal expert will be crucial for success.
From our experience, our platform and network across 45 countries and deep understanding of the healthcare industry has been extremely helpful to clients. We also support post-integration, which often involves practical complexities that our experienced teams are well-equipped to handle.
From our experience, our platform and network across 45 countries and deep understanding of the healthcare industry has been extremely helpful to clients.
Peerapan Tungsuwan, Partner at Baker Mckenzie Thailand
Thailand and Japan share deep economic ties, with Japanese companies playing a significant role in the Thai market. What opportunities and challenges do Japanese investors face when entering or expanding within Thailand’s healthcare and life sciences industries?
Investors should take advantage of the Thai government’s policy of promoting the development of the healthcare ecosystem to be a leading global medical hub. Thailand’s industrial manufacturing standards have laid a solid foundation for medical devices manufacturing. There are opportunities to enhance the technology capacity of local manufacturers.
The BOI has introduced attractive tax and non-tax incentives for developing the healthcare ecosystem, including medical devices and pharmaceutical manufacturing and facility development. There are also incentives for R&D investments.
Challenges include the strength and maturity of current operators. However, opportunities lie in technology and innovation that differentiate new entrants. We’ve seen Japanese players diversify into the high-tech medical device sector. Technology can also drive growth in telemedicine—an area that saw demand during COVID but has since been underutilized. Quality telemedicine can improve access and open new markets for investors, especially in government hospitals and clinics.
Sustainability is a growing priority across industries, including healthcare. How is Baker McKenzie advising clients on integrating ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) considerations into their business and investment strategies in Thailand?
The legal and regulatory framework for sustainability and ESG in Thailand is evolving. Notably, the Climate Change Bill includes mandatory obligations on greenhouse gas reporting, carbon tax, and an Emissions Trading System (ETS). In addition, customer demands, global supply chain commitments, and stricter regulations (e.g., from the EU) are driving businesses to adapt to greener operations.
Delays in ESG adaptation may cause exclusion from value chains or reduce market competitiveness.
We advise our Japanese clients proactively in this area. Our multidisciplinary team—comprising sustainability lawyers, economists, and engineers—offers tailored ESG strategies aligned with specific project priorities.
Thailand and Japan also collaborate on decarbonization via the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), which provides Thai companies with financial support and credit sharing to contribute to Japan’s carbon reduction commitments.
Thailand and Japan also collaborate on decarbonization via the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), which provides Thai companies with financial support and credit sharing to contribute to Japan’s carbon reduction commitments.
With Expo 2025 Osaka providing a global platform for innovation, what role do you see Thailand playing in advancing healthcare collaboration between Japan and ASEAN, and how can legal frameworks support this?
Developing Thailand as a healthcare hub has been a consistent priority across national development plans. The Ministry of Public Health, FDA, and Department of Health Service Support have led reforms, alongside active contributions from the private sector.
Examples include:
- The Ministry of Commerce and FDA improving public-facing services, publishing clear approval criteria online.
- The Ministry of Commerce is moving toward full e-submission for incorporation and corporate secretarial applications.
- Over 90% of medical device registration applications are now handled online.
- The FDA has prioritized post-marketing control and strengthened international collaboration to facilitate product launches.
- The FDA also supports digital health and AI through guidance for Software as Medical Devices (SaMD) and AI systems.
To promote cost-effectiveness and streamline approvals, Thailand allows faster registration for devices already approved by Stringent Regulatory Authorities (SRAs) such as the USA, EU, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore, or WHO.
Thailand’s healthcare sector is entering a dynamic phase, driven by government initiatives, global partnerships, and technological advancements. Legal expertise will be essential to navigate these changes. Baker McKenzie Thailand continues to be a trusted advisor in shaping the region’s healthcare future.
