Almost 100,000 refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) may be severely affected by cuts to public health funding following US President Donald Trump’s executive order. According to Dr. Synthia Maung, founder of Mae Tao Clinic, the clinic has already seen a reduction of about one-third of its budget.
Dr. Synthia, who has been providing public healthcare for refugees at the Thailand-Myanmar border for decades, said the U.S. government’s decision to cut support to 90 countries after Trump’s inauguration is having a significant impact on healthcare services in Thailand. The order, which came into effect on January 25, 2025, halts the immediate disbursement of U.S. funds, requiring a 90-day review process. This has left thousands of refugees and IDPs in limbo, facing an uncertain future.
In an interview with Transborder News on January 28, 2025, Dr. Synthia explained that while Mae Tao Clinic receives funding from various sources, the U.S. funding cuts will impact around one-third of its budget. This will force the clinic to reduce its spending by 30% in the coming months. The clinic is now working with other organizations to plan how to continue providing emergency and life-saving care.
“Mae Tao Clinic has been operating as usual, but we need to figure out how to help patients, especially those in critical conditions,” Dr. Synthia said. “We are consulting with partners to ensure that we can still offer life-saving support in the coming months.”
Dr. Synthia expressed concern that if the funding cuts are permanent, the consequences for public healthcare along the border will be severe. Many hospitals, from Mae Hong Son to Tak Province, collaborate with the clinic by receiving referrals, and these hospitals could be impacted as well.
“This is an urgent issue,” Dr. Synthia said. “We need to secure new funding to keep the clinic running. The referral process could be disrupted, which would be devastating for patients who rely on our services.”
In addition to the clinic’s challenges, nine refugee camps along the Thai border are facing a public health crisis. Dr. Synthia is in talks with organizations like the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to address the needs of the approximately 90,000 refugees in these camps. Thousands of displaced persons from Myanmar, many of whom have fled areas heavily targeted by Myanmar’s junta air raids, also depend on Mae Tao Clinic’s outreach teams.
“We are trying to send backpack health workers to these remote areas, but the budget cuts make it much harder,” Dr. Synthia said. “We are concerned that more refugees will seek help in Thailand, and if the referral system breaks down, we could face a serious healthcare crisis.”
The situation has raised concerns among Thai academics. Chayan Vaddhanaphuti and Malee Sitthikriangkrai, professors from the Faculty of Social Science at Chiang Mai University, conducted a study on alternative policies for refugees in Thailand.
The study, funded by the Thai National Committee on Human Rights, highlighted the lack of a formal definition for ‘refugee’ in Thailand, as the country is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. As a result, refugees are labeled as “displaced persons,” a term that denies them certain rights, such as freedom of movement.
“This needs to be reconsidered,” Chayan said. “Refugees should have the right to travel, work, and access healthcare. The Thai government must find a way to integrate these people more effectively into society rather than treating them as a burden.”
Dr. Chayan also stressed the importance of creating clearer policies for refugees, particularly in temporary shelters along the border. With Thailand now a member of the UN Human Rights Council, he argued that the government should work with other ASEAN countries to provide better solutions, such as issuing identification cards to allow refugees to travel and seek employment.
“These refugees have skills—many are skilled workers, musicians, and tech-savvy individuals,” Chayan said. “But they are denied the opportunity to work. It’s as if the government is ignoring their potential. Allowing them to contribute to the economy could be beneficial for Thailand.”
The issue is also being closely monitored by the Thai government. Somsak Thepsuthin, Thailand’s Minister of Public Health, recently commented on the situation, noting that the number of displaced persons in the nine shelters along the Thai-Myanmar border exceeds 100,000. These shelters currently rely on international funding, and the Trump administration’s decision to cut support could have serious consequences.
“We need to carefully consider how to manage this situation,” Minister Somsak said in an interview at the Government House. “We cannot abandon the refugees who are already here, but we must also ensure that the rights of Thai citizens to access healthcare are not compromised.”
The Ministry of Public Health has long expressed concerns that foreign residents, including refugees and illegal immigrants, could strain the country’s healthcare system. Minister Somsak pointed out that millions of people in Thailand, including displaced persons, illegal immigrants, and those applying for legal status, may require attention. He emphasized the importance of addressing these issues without disrupting healthcare for Thai citizens.
“We need to find a sustainable solution for the millions of foreign residents, and the Ministry of Public Health is working to resolve this issue,” he said. “However, the cabinet’s position on this matter is constantly evolving, so we must keep working to find a stable solution.”
As the deadline for the 90-day review of U.S. funding approaches, both refugees and host communities along the Thai-Myanmar border remain in limbo, waiting to see what the future holds for their access to healthcare.