Thailand's Health Ministry ordered hospitals and medical clinics this week to temporarily stop performing castrations for non-medical reasons, saying the procedure that is popular among transgender people needs stricter monitoring. "As of today, doctors can perform the surgery if there is a medical reason to do so - not for any other reason," ministry spokesman Suphan Srithamma said. A letter will be sent to medical facilities around the country telling them to halt so-called commercial castrations until further notice, he said. Any violators could face closure of their practices. Suphan said he did not have official statistics on the numbers of castrations performed in Thailand, but said many underage patients were unaware of the risks it posed, including hormonal imbalances and stunted physical development. The ministry's move came after a leading gay activist, Natee Teerarojjanapongs, called on the Medical Council to take action against clinics that perform castrations on underage boys. More on this story is on the link below.