Ministry Builds 400-Bed Wing at Sisaket Hospital
The Ministry of Public Health has earmarked 144.8 million baht for a new 400‑bed facility at Kantharalak Hospital in Sisaket Province, aiming to strengthen health services in Thailand’s lower Isan region. The ground‑breaking ceremony took place on 9 October 2026, with the minister saying the project will double annual surgeries from 6,000 to 12,000 and cut patient travel from 100 km to 30 km. The four‑storey building will include radiology, laboratory, ICU and eight operating rooms, with completion set for December 2027.
The Ministry of Public Health has allocated 144.8 million baht to build a 400-bed building at Kantharalak Hospital in Sisaket Province, aiming to upgrade health services in the lower Isan border area. On 9 October 2026, Public Health Minister Phatthana Phromphat presided over the ground‑breaking ceremony for the 400‑bed medical building at Kantharalak Hospital, Sisaket Province, attended by Permanent Secretary Dr. Somruks Jungsuman and local officials. The minister said the construction supports the 'one health zone, one province, one hospital' policy, which aims to have hospitals in the province share personnel, bed management and services, shifting care to smaller hospitals to reduce congestion at the main hospital in concrete terms. He added that the new building will expand treatment capacity close to home and will allow the hospital to handle twice as many surgeries — increasing from 6,000 to 12,000 cases per year. Residents can receive services locally without having to go to Sisaket Hospital, which cuts travel distance from 100 kilometres to 30 kilometres and saves about 800 baht per visit. Meanwhile, Dr. Somruks said Kantharalak Hospital currently accommodates only 297 beds but must serve a population of about 400,000 in zone 3, causing overcrowding and long waiting times. The new four‑storey building, with 400 beds and a budget of 144,898,000 baht, will have a usable area of 5,774 square metres. The ground floor will house the radiology (X‑ray) department, the second floor the medical laboratory, the third floor a 16‑bed intensive care unit, and the fourth floor eight standard operating rooms. Construction is scheduled for completion in December 2027.
