Ipsos Health Service Report: Thailand’s Healthcare Landscape in 2026
The latest Ipsos Health Service Report 2026 highlights how public perceptions of healthcare are evolving around the world. Across 32 countries, people are increasingly focused on the quality, accessibility and future of healthcare systems, while mental health continues to gain recognition as an important component of overall wellbeing.
For Thailand, the findings paint a picture of a healthcare system that is viewed positively by the public, while also reflecting broader shifts seen across Asia Pacific and globally. From mental health and healthcare access to population ageing and emerging innovations such as GLP-1 medications, the results provide valuable insight into how Thai consumers are thinking about health today and what they expect in the years ahead.
Thailand ranks among the higher-performing healthcare systems globally
Ipsos' Quality of Care Perception Index measures public perceptions across five dimensions: satisfaction with healthcare quality, trust in the healthcare system, access to doctors, access to pharmacies and perceptions of equitable care.
Thailand achieves an index score of 61%, placing it among the higher-performing healthcare systems globally and within the upper tier of Asia Pacific markets. Thailand ranks ahead of many developed healthcare markets, including the United States, Canada, Germany and Japan.
The findings reinforce Thailand's reputation for providing accessible healthcare services, supported by relatively strong levels of trust and positive evaluations of healthcare quality.
Across the 32 countries surveyed, only Malaysia, Singapore, India, Vietnam, Australia and the Netherlands achieved higher overall scores than Thailand.
Mental health continues to gain visibility as a health priority
Mental health remains the most frequently cited health issue globally, with 48% of people across 32 countries identifying it as one of the biggest health problems facing their country.
In Thailand, mental health and stress are jointly recognised as the leading health priorities, reflecting an increasingly holistic view of health that extends beyond physical conditions alone.
While levels of concern vary significantly across countries, the Thai public's recognition of mental wellbeing aligns with a broader global trend in which mental health has moved from being a specialist topic to becoming part of mainstream healthcare conversations.
The findings also show that 73% of Thais believe mental and physical health are equally important, highlighting growing awareness of the connection between emotional wellbeing and overall health.
At the same time, Thailand records one of the smallest gaps globally between how important people believe mental health is and how they perceive it is treated within the healthcare system, suggesting relatively positive perceptions compared with many international markets.
Access and healthcare capacity remain important considerations
Globally, access to treatment and waiting times (47%) are identified as the most significant healthcare system issues, followed by staffing levels (43%). Thailand largely mirrors these global patterns. Among Thai respondents:
- 51% identify access to treatment and waiting times as a key healthcare system issue
- 46% cite staffing levels
- 28% mention the cost of accessing treatment
- 22% identify population ageing as an important consideration
The findings suggest that, while healthcare quality is viewed positively, consumers continue to place importance on timely access to services and maintaining healthcare capacity as demand evolves.
Compared with many European countries, however, Thailand reports considerably lower perceptions of healthcare systems being overstretched. Just over half of Thai respondents (52%) agree that the healthcare system is currently overstretched, compared with the global average of 64%.
Population ageing is becoming increasingly relevant
As one of Asia's rapidly ageing societies, Thailand is experiencing demographic changes that are influencing healthcare priorities.
While concern about ageing populations is highest in Singapore, South Korea and Japan, Thai respondents also recognise its relevance to the future healthcare landscape.
The growing visibility of ageing as a healthcare consideration reflects wider discussions around preventive care, healthy ageing, chronic disease management and long-term healthcare planning.
As life expectancy continues to increase across the region, supporting health and wellbeing throughout longer lives is likely to become an increasingly important focus for policymakers, providers and businesses alike.
Trust and healthcare information remain strengths
Trust remains a critical component of healthcare systems. Six in ten Thais (61%) agree that they trust the healthcare system to provide the best treatment.
The research also shows that healthcare information remains relatively accessible. Two-thirds of Thai respondents (67%) agree that information about healthcare services is readily available when they need it, one of the higher scores recorded across participating countries.
Access to trusted information is becoming increasingly important as consumers take a more active role in managing their own health, exploring treatment options and making informed healthcare decisions.
Awareness of GLP-1 medicines continues to grow
One of the report's emerging themes is the rising awareness of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro. Across the 32 countries studied, awareness has reached 50%, illustrating how rapidly these medicines have entered public conversations around weight management and metabolic health.
In Thailand, awareness remains below levels seen in North America and Western Europe but continues to increase year-on-year, reflecting broader trends across Asia Pacific.
The report also highlights how healthcare consumers are increasingly discovering information about treatments through a mix of social media, traditional media and peer networks, demonstrating the growing role of consumer-driven healthcare journeys.
As understanding of these therapies expands, they are expected to remain an important topic within discussions surrounding obesity, diabetes and preventative health.
