The Cabinet yesterday approved a plan to set up a 400-bed medical facility in Samut Prakan's Bang Phli district.
"The plan will boost the Ramathibodi Hospital's capacity," Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat said.
Designed to honour His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 84th birthday anniversary, the plan will see the start of construction of the new medical facility next year.
Prof Dr Rajata Rajatanavin, dean of the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, said his institute had planned to develop a medical centre in Bang Phli district to accommodate the medical needs of people in this industrial zone as well as in nearby provinces.
"Apart from providing medical services, this new centre will focus on occupational health development," he said. He added that research would be conducted to boost the quality of life in the industrial areas.
Chinnaworn said the Cabinet has also approved a Bt212million budget to help the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital shoulder the cost of medical staff for its new centre.
The education minister will chair the board of the new medical centre. Board members will include the dean of the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital and other officials.
The new medical centre will be constructed over 292 rai of land.
Rajata said the new medical centre would provide primary and secondary medical care. However, in serious cases, patients would be transferred to the Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok, he added.
"We are going to develop an efficient referral system," he said.
Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok treats about 1.5 million outpatients annually. With about 1,000 beds, it serves some 30,000 inpatients a year.