The Public Health Ministry is planning to launch a “One Province One Hospital” programme that aims to boost the quality of local hospitals and seeks to transform the island into a popular medical tourism destination, permanent secretary Narong Sahametha said.
He said the plan includes a rotation cycle between the three hospitals, under which nurses and doctors will assist or get involved in skill-training exercises at the other two hospitals every week. This will help strengthen the weaknesses in each hospital. They will also work under a resource-sharing policy, where equipment and medical facilities will be lent or borrowed when necessary.
Patients will be referred to one of the three hospitals depending on needs. At present, only Vachira Phuket Hospital has a Hyperbaric chamber, used to treat patients suffering from decompression sickness. But Vachira lacks an emergency unit unlike Patong or Thalang hospitals.
Though Phuket has established itself as a popular holiday destination, the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015 will bring even more visitors. So, radical changes are being planned for the resort town, and the “One Province One Hospital” program is just a part of these.
