Thailand Approves $180M Andaman Health Hub to Turn Phuket into Global Wellness Center

Thailand’s Cabinet has given the green light to a large-scale healthcare initiative aimed at transforming Phuket and the Andaman region into a leading international wellness destination.

The “Andaman Health Hub Project,” spearheaded by Prince of Songkla University, comes with a total budget of 6.43 billion baht and is scheduled to be implemented between 2027 and 2030. The program is designed to address shortages in healthcare professionals while significantly upgrading medical services for both residents and international visitors.

The initiative includes five key components that together form a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem:

• Andaman Health College to train future medical personnel

• A Center for Thai Traditional Medicine combining local healing practices with modern approaches

• A Medical Technology Center to enhance diagnostics and laboratory services

• A Digital Dentistry Center introducing advanced dental technologies

• Songklanagarind Hospital Phuket, the flagship medical facility of the project

The largest share of funding—4.85 billion baht—will be allocated to building the new Songklanagarind Hospital Phuket. Of this amount, 2.9 billion baht will come from government funding, while the remaining 1.93 billion baht will be sourced externally. The hospital is expected to be fully equipped with modern medical technologies and open by 2030.

The broader goals of the Andaman Health Hub include improving access to high-quality healthcare, reducing the need to transfer patients with complex conditions to other regions, and strengthening Phuket’s position in the global medical tourism market.

By combining education, innovation, and infrastructure development, the project aims not only to modernize Thailand’s healthcare system but also to reinforce the Andaman region’s status as a premier destination for wellness and medical travel.