The hospital unofficially opened in November 2019, and the grand opening was planned for 2020, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The inauguration ceremony yesterday included the presentation of a commemorative plaque to acknowledge the generous donations that made the hospital’s establishment possible.
A significant contribution came from Kao Areerob, who donated a substantial area of land area measuring 10 rai 2 ngan 53 square wah. Additionally, Ms Luan Kraitat contributed to the construction of a ‘Suksala’ building where additional medical services can be provided.. The donations were aimed at facilitating health care services and medical treatment for residents and tourists particularly in Chalong, Karon and Rawai.
The hospital is seen as crucial in reducing the time it takes for people in the south of the island to receive emergency medical treatment, and alleviates congestion at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town, Dr Cholnan said.
Some 54,227 people live in the south of the island, he added.
Chalong Hospital is the fourth government hospital on the island. The hospital’s upgrade from an F2 community hospital to an F1 level community hospital (30 beds) with an active bed capacity of 48 beds was approved on Oct 24 last year, Dr Cholnan explained.
The hospital now boasts 32 general inpatient beds, 12 special inpatient beds, and four postpartum sick beds.
Dr Cholnan noted that the upgrade was in line with the Ministry’s policy and plans to expedite development within ‘Quick Win’ 100 days in the domain of community hospital development, fulfilling its potential to support patients at the secondary level.
The hospital is currently operational, offering general outpatient examinations in four examination rooms. Specialized clinics include respiratory disease clinics, health education clinics, smoking cessation, alcohol cessation, newborn to 2-month vaccination clinics, orthopedic and joint clinics, prenatal care clinics, chronic disease clinics, diabetes and blood pressure management, belly reduction/behavior modification clinic, family planning clinic, elderly clinic, child development clinic, medical marijuana clinic, parent school clinic, psychiatric and drug treatment clinic, and fertility clinics.
Dr Cholnan also announced the Minister of Public Health’s commitment to supporting Phuket in its journey to becoming a safe haven for tourists with the launch of the ‘Safety Phuket Island Sandbox’ initiative.
The initiative aims to redefine health safety standards, emphasising modern disease control, advanced disease surveillance and prompt emergency response measures, he said.
Aligned with the government’s vision of promoting tourism to stimulate the country’s economy, the focus on Phuket is paramount due to its global recognition as a tourist haven, attracting millions of Thai and international visitors annually, Dr Cholnan continued.
“Recognising Phuket’s potential, the Ministry of Public Health is actively pushing for the island to be a pioneering province for medically safe tourism cities under the banner of ‘Medical Tourist Safety’.
“The island’s commitment extends to comprehensive care for critically ill patients, including emergency transfers facilitated by aircraft, or ‘Sky Doctor’ services,” he said.
“The infrastructure is being enhanced to accommodate the health needs of the community, with a focus on modernizing community hospitals with cutting-edge equipment. This ensures the capability to diagnose and treat more complex diseases, instilling confidence among both residents and tourists,” he added.