The project, set to be implemented between 2026 and 2029, aims to enhance healthcare services in Phuket and the Andaman region.
The approved budget will be distributed over four fiscal years as follows:
- 2026: B749.50 million
- 2027: B1,031.89mn
- 2028: B938.92mn
- 2029: B420mn
Additionally, PSU has been directed to submit a budget request for 2026 in accordance with Section 26 of the Budget Procedure Act B.E. 2561 for items exceeding B1bn to the Budget Bureau.
PSU has outlined the hospital as a crucial step in addressing public health system challenges in Phuket and the surrounding Andaman region, the Cabinet minutes noted.
The province currently faces a shortage of qualified medical personnel capable of treating complex diseases, along with insufficient workforce development in health sciences and public health. The gaps are particularly critical given Phuket’s role in high-value tourism and the growing demand for medical tourism services, the Cabinet admitted.
To bridge these gaps, PSU plans to enhance medical education and workforce development in the region. This includes training new graduates, upskilling existing professionals and developing specialised skills to support both public and private healthcare sectors.
The initiative aligns with Thailand’s long-term strategy to position itself as a global leader in medical tourism, the Cabinet said.
The Songklanagarind Hospital Phuket project will establish a 300-bed specialised medical centre offering advanced tertiary care, precision medicine and telemedicine services. It aims to complement existing Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) hospitals in the region by providing treatment for complex diseases and enhancing the overall healthcare system.
Furthermore, the hospital will play a key role in the ‘Phuket Health Sandbox’ project, which seeks to integrate public health advancements with economic development. With a focus on research, innovation and sustainability, PSU envisions the facility as a cornerstone in strengthening Thailand’s position as a leading medical tourism hub.
In April 2023, the new 500-bed ‘Songklanagarind Phuket Hospital’, as it was promoted at the time, was forecast to generate B1.6 billion a year in revenue from foreign visitors.
The news followed an event to mark MBK Group donating 36 rai of land worth B400 million, located alongside the Red Mountain Golf Course in Kathu, to PSU to build the hospital.
In October 2022, the Cabinet approved more than B5.1bn to build the ‘Andaman International Health Center’ on the 141-rai site in Mai Khao, at the northern end of Phuket ‒ a project that never eventuated despite years of government officials promoting it.