The four-year project will run from fiscal year 2027 to 2030 and is aimed at strengthening healthcare services, addressing personnel shortages and reducing the need to transfer patients with complex conditions outside the region, Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploytalay Laksmisangchan announced yesterday (Apr 28).
Ms Ploytalay said the initiative is designed to upgrade the healthcare system across Phuket and neighbouring Andaman provinces, one of Thailand’s key strategic tourism and economic zones.
“The project is not just about building a hospital, but about laying the foundation for a comprehensive health system for the entire Andaman region,” she said. “It will ensure the region has skilled personnel, modern technology, research capacity and medical services that meet international standards.”
The Andaman Health Center project comprises five core elements:
- Andaman Health College
- Songklanagarind Thai Traditional Medicine Hospital, Phuket
- Songklanagarind Medical Technology Service Center, Phuket
- Songklanagarind Digital Dentistry Center, Phuket
- Songklanagarind Hospital, Phuket
The facilities are intended to support treatment of complex diseases, precision medicine, telemedicine services and the training of health science personnel.
Central to the project is the construction of Songklanagarind Hospital Phuket, a tertiary-level specialised hospital expected to open in 2030.
The hospital alone carries a budget of B4.85bn, including B2.91bn from the government and B1.94bn from non-budgetary sources, along with funding for medical equipment and instruments.
Officials have acknowledged that Phuket and the Andaman region face ongoing shortages of qualified medical personnel, particularly in specialised fields required to treat complex illnesses.
These gaps have led to frequent patient referrals to hospitals in other parts of Thailand, increasing costs and delays in treatment.
The new centre aims to ease that burden by expanding local capacity and improving access to advanced care for both residents and the millions of tourists who visit the region each year.
Ms Ploytalay said the project would also help reduce healthcare inequality and improve access to quality services closer to home, while strengthening confidence among residents, investors and international visitors.
The initiative aligns with Thailand’s broader strategy to position itself as a global leader in medical tourism, with Phuket playing a central role due to its established tourism infrastructure and international appeal.
Prince of Songkla University has previously indicated the facility could serve more than 170,000 patients annually, while also producing healthcare professionals tailored to regional demand.
The university is also developing new medical education programmes integrating language skills and advanced technologies to support the region’s ambition of becoming a global “health city”.
The latest approval builds on earlier efforts to develop a major medical facility in Phuket, including a previous Cabinet-backed Songklanagarind Hospital project.
Authorities say the expanded Andaman Health Center concept represents a more comprehensive approach, combining education, research and specialised treatment under one system.
With construction expected to begin under the 2027 fiscal budget, officials say the project marks a significant step toward establishing Phuket and the Andaman coast as a world-class destination not only for tourism, but also for healthcare.
See also:
PSU Phuket hospital to generate B1.6bn a year from foreigners
Cabinet approves B5bn for ‘Andaman International Health Center’