Phyathai revival to cost around B800m

PHUKET CITY: An estimated 800 million baht will be needed to renovate the abandoned Phyathai Hospital and open it as an annex of Wachira Phuket Hospital, Wachira Phuket director Dr Jessada Chungpaibultatana said today.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra gave the go-ahead for the refurbishment plans – put forward by Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura – during his visit to Phuket on August 25 (Gazette September 4).

Dr Jessada said the refurbishment of Phyathai, on Si Sena Rd in Phuket City, would take around 18 months and would lead to the creation of 200 or so additional beds.

He said, “Currently, Wachira Phuket Hospital is often full; we don’t have enough beds to cope with the increasing number of patients.

“Refurbishing Phyathai would take less time than building a new hospital, which would take four or five years.”

Dr Jessada said the 800 million baht budget included 400 million baht for the purchase of the building, 200 million baht for the refurbishment and 200 million baht for staffing.

However, this was just an initial estimate; a more concrete budget would be drawn up after discussions with the Ministry of Finance and the Asset Management Corp, which currently owns the abandoned hospital.

Dr Jessada told the Gazette, “I talked to the chief administrative officer in the Ministry of Public Health in Bangkok yesterday. We will probably set up a committee to take care of this project.”

But, Dr Jessada warned, little progrees could be made until agreement had been reached with Asset Management Corp.