The Thai Cabinet has approved a 3.14 billion baht budget for the construction of Songklanagarind Hospital Phuket, a major healthcare initiative under Prince of Songkla University (PSU), slated for completion between 2026 and 2029.
The new project aims to enhance healthcare services throughout Phuket and the Andaman region.
The budget will be distributed over four years: 749.50 million baht in 2026 (US$22 million), 1,031.89 million baht in 2027 (US$30.5 million), 938.92 million baht in 2028 (US$27.8 million), and 420 million baht in 2029 (US$12.4 million).
Additionally, PSU must submit a budget proposal for 2026 that conforms to Section 26 of the Budget Procedure Act B.E. 2561, requiring approval for allocations over 1 billion baht (US$29.5 million) from the Budget Bureau.
Cabinet records indicate that the hospital is critical for addressing public health challenges in Phuket and the surrounding Andaman region.
The region currently faces a shortage of medical professionals skilled at handling complex health conditions and lacks sufficient workforce development in health sciences and public health.
This situation is exacerbated by Phuket’s significant role in the lucrative tourism industry and the growing demand for medical tourism services.
To mitigate these challenges, PSU plans to improve medical education and workforce training in the region by educating new graduates, enhancing the skills of current professionals, and developing specialized capabilities to support both public and private healthcare sectors.
The Songklanagarind Hospital Phuket, part of Thailand’s strategy to become a global hub for medical tourism, will be a 300-bed specialized medical center that offers advanced tertiary care, precision medicine, and telemedicine services.
The hospital will support existing Ministry of Public Health hospitals by providing care for complex diseases and bolstering the overall healthcare infrastructure.
It will also be integral to the Phuket Health Sandbox project, which aims to blend public health improvements with economic growth.
Focusing on research, innovation, and sustainability, PSU hopes this facility will strengthen Thailand’s leadership in the medical tourism sector.
In April 2023, the newly promoted 500-bed Songklanagarind Phuket Hospital was projected to generate 1.6 billion baht (US$47.3 million) annually from international patients.
This followed a donation by the MBK Group of 36 rai of land worth 400 million baht (US$11.8 million), located next to the Red Mountain Golf Course in Kathu, for the hospital’s construction, as reported by The Phuket News.
In October 2022, the Cabinet had sanctioned more than 5.1 billion baht (US$150 million) for the Andaman International Health Centre on a 141-rai site in Mai Khao at the northern tip of Phuket, although this project ultimately did not proceed despite extensive governmental promotion.