Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on 14 May 2021 opened a new medical facility, established by the Ministry of Public Health, to provide treatment for COVID-19 patients with mild or moderate symptoms.
The new facility, known as Busarakham Hospital, is located at the Challenger Hall in Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi province. It is manned with 780 medical personnel, who will take turns operating there. In the initial stage, the hospital has 1,092 beds, and the capacity can be expanded to 5,000 beds.
The setting up of the new facility is intended to provide quick treatment to COVID-19 cases in order to reduce the number of deaths and serious illness.
The Busarakham Hospital is equipped with medicines, pharmaceutical products, ventilators, mobile x-ray machines, laboratories, and other medical devices. At the opening of the hospital, the Prime Minister also received donations from the private sector in terms of medical equipment, consumer goods, and toilets.
Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that, with cooperation from various sectors, the Ministry of Public Health spent only seven days to establish the Busarakham Hospital until it was opened on 14 May.
Apart from the treatment zone, there are also leisure and physical activity zones, with good ventilation and circulation. Both physical and mental health care will be provided for patients. Disease prevention has been carried out properly to ensure that the surrounding community will have no impact.
Concerning the COVID-19 vaccination program, Mr. Anutin said that the Ministry of Public Health is ready to provide walk-in services, starting in June when there are enough vaccine doses. The walk-in services also depend on the readiness of each province. In the allocation of vaccine doses, 30 percent will be set aside for those making appointments through the “Mor Prompt” system, 50 percent for group appointments, and 20 percent for walk-ins.
The Government has decided to secure more COVID-19 vaccines, from the original target of 100 million doses to 150 million doses by 2022.