Bangkok's Nakornthon Hospital will open three specialised medical centres next year in a bid to boost annual revenue to Bt1 billion.
Medical director Wiroj Trakarnwijitr yesterday said the three specialised centres were an ear, nose and throat centre, a surgery centre and a neuroscience centre. The first was planned last year and is scheduled to open next year, while the latter two were planned this year, all aimed at boosting revenue next year.
"The hospital earlier targeted revenue of Bt1 billion this year, up 18.5 per cent from last year's Bt815 million. But it will likely not achieve this target, because the global economic crisis has affected service businesses, including healthcare. The best we may be able to do this year is about Bt900 million, up 10 per cent from last year.
"Therefore, we plan to create two more specialised medical centres - surgery and neuroscience - targeting revenue of Bt1 billion," he said.
Wiroj said the type-A (H1N1) influenza outbreak benefited the hospital only in July, because demand from people seeking admission was beyond the hospital's 150-bed capacity. Inpatient and outpatient numbers had since declined to below normal in some months, because of the global economic crisis.
Nakornthon Hospital is spending Bt20 million on the new medical centres. The ear, nose and throat and surgery centres will open in the first half of next year, while the neuroscience centre is expected to open about midyear.
The hospital opened an Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre in March.
Wiroj said Nakornthon Hospital's shareholders had co-invested Bt350 million to establish Nakornthon Plaza, a group of buildings consisting of serviced apartments, a holistic medicine centre and a shopping plaza, near the hospital. The buildings are under construction and expected to be complete by the end of next year.