Bangkok: The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has issued a warning concerning soaring medical inflation, which has exceeded 10.8%. This surge has prompted calls for controlling drug prices at private hospitals and has highlighted the growing issue of household non-performing loans (NPLs), which have reached a staggering 1.3 trillion baht.

According to Thai News Agency, the NESDC's Q4 2025 report reveals a critical situation in the Thai society, particularly with the "medical inflation" crisis. This inflation rate is fifteen times higher than the general inflation rate, attributed to rising medical costs in private hospitals. These costs are driven by investments in expensive technology, competition for medical personnel, and inflated pricing of medicines and medical supplies. The NESDC urges the government to establish mechanisms to control essential medicine prices, disclose cost structures, and support AI use to reduce unnecessary medical expenses.

In the labor market, the NESDC notes a decrease in the unemployment rate to 0.70%. However, there is a growing concern about the "quasi-unemployed" group, which has increased by 2 million people. This indicates that employment recovery is incomplete, especially in the agricultural sector. While the manufacturing and service sectors have seen slight growth, income stability remains a risk for Thai workers amidst challenging economic conditions.

Regarding household debt, the NESDC reports a slight decrease in total debt to 16.31 trillion baht, but NPLs have surged to 1.3 trillion baht, accounting for 9.4% of total loans. There is a notable concern over high-income earners, with one in five defaulting on loans. Moreover, the prevalence of online lending and "buy now, pay later" models are seen as potential risks that could further destabilize the financial situation of Thai households in the future.