The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicines (DTAM) has issued a certificate for Saengchai "Mor Saeng" Haelerttrakul, making him a folk healer, which enables him to continue handing out free herbal medicines to help cancer sufferers.
DTAM director-general Kiattibhoom Vongrachit said he signed the certificate to be given to Mr Saengchai yesterday after receiving the required documents including a letter of approval from a community hospital.
The move came after Mr Saengchai, who is widely known for providing free herbal medicines to cancer patients, said on Tuesday he was considering stopping distributing the medicines after his request to be registered as a folk healer had not been granted.
Mr Saengchai, a provincial electricity authority official in Prachin Buri province, asked the DTAM to register him as a folk healer in November last year. The DTAM claimed it was still waiting for proper documents.
However, Dr Kiattibhoom said the department must hold off issung a certificate for Mr Saengchai's herbal medicines pending a joint study with the National Cancer Institute expected on March 31.
Under regulations regarding certification of a folk healer, a certified folk doctor can treat himself and provide assistance to patients without seeking commercial gain. However, authorities may assign the certified folk healer to provide treatment under medical supervision.
Mor Saeng became famous almost a decade ago after patients claimed his homebrew herbs had helped cure their cancer. Thousands of people queued up at his house in Prachin Buri each month to receive his free medicine.