Held on the third floor of Bangkok Phuket Hospital under the theme ‘Learn to Live On (Tsunami, and Live On)’, the event reflected on the tsunami’s enduring impact on Phuket and its people while sharing experiences with current and future generations.
Dr Lalita Kongsiha, Assistant to the Executive Committee, Group 6 of Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS), and Director of Bangkok Phuket Hospital and Dibuk Hospital, presided over the ceremony. She recalled the hospital’s critical role when waves struck on Dec 26, 2004, killing thousands of people and causing chaos across the Andaman coast.
“The 2004 tsunami was rapid and unforeseen, causing severe injuries and losses among local residents and tourists from many countries,” Dr Lalita said. “Bangkok Phuket Hospital became one of the primary medical facilities helping victims amid intense time pressure, limited resources and huge uncertainty.”
"Bangkok Hospital Phuket received 981 injured patients, both Thai and international, providing care around the clock without pause. More than 400 patients required inpatient treatment, and some critically injured patients were repatriated to their home countries through the collective efforts of doctors, nurses, and emergency medical transport teams within the Bangkok Hospital network," she noted.
She emphasised that the tragedy revealed extraordinary unity and dedication among medical teams. Doctors, nurses and support staff worked around the clock for days without hesitation or division of roles, driven by one shared goal – saving as many lives as possible.
Dr Lalita said those experiences shaped the hospital’s long-term development, strengthening its preparedness strategies, resource management, communication systems and coordinated response with both internal departments and external agencies, including community organisations.
Since then, she noted, Bangkok Phuket Hospital has continued to upgrade its emergency medical capabilities through regular training, drills and professional development to ensure stronger readiness for any future crisis.
As part of the commemoration, the hospital also officially opened the ‘Tsunami Gallery’, a dedicated learning space preserving photographs, accounts and records from the disaster. The gallery serves as a public educational resource for medical personnel, students, community members and future generations, highlighting the importance of preparedness, cooperation and compassion during times of crisis.
Far more than a memorial display, the gallery is intended to connect the past with the present, reminding visitors of both the human impact of the tsunami and the strength that emerged through collaboration in disaster response.
The hospital said the commemorative programme reinforces its commitment not only to caring for patients but also to sharing knowledge gained from real-life emergency experience to help build a community that is better prepared, resilient and able to move forward with strength and sustainability.