Private Sector Collaborates to Establish Field Hospital at Bangna-Trad Km. 5 with 450 Beds, Opening for Patients in Early August to Align with Government Policy

Due to the third wave of COVID-19, which has led to an overflow of patients, both private and public hospitals are at full capacity. The government has expedited the establishment of field hospitals and is working to expand access to care for patients more quickly.

 

To help alleviate the issues arising from the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand, the Principal Healthcare Group has partnered with the private sector and foundations to establish a field hospital that meets the standards set by the Ministry of Public Health, with support from various government agencies.

Founding partners of the field hospital include: Principal Healthcare Group, MQDC, EEC Engineering Network, T&B Media Global, and the Thanin Tevee Chiaravanont Foundation, Ariyawararama Foundation, and Phuttharaksa Foundation.

 

Each partner has collaborated on construction, air conditioning systems, and wastewater treatment to ensure the highest safety for patients and medical personnel, as well as all staff working in the center and the overall environment. They are also responsible for deploying medical teams and nurses to provide care and public health services to patients.

 

The foundations involved in the establishment include the Thanin Tevee Chiaravanont Foundation, Ariyawararama Foundation, and Phuttharaksa Foundation, which will continue to provide support.

The field hospital is located at Wat Palad Prian Alley, Bangna-Trad Km. 5, Bangkaew Subdistrict, Bangplee District, Samut Prakan Province. The hospital will consist of large tents equipped with air conditioning and ventilation systems that ensure safety both inside and outside the hospital, with a total of 6 patient tents accommodating 450 beds. It will accept green and light yellow patients, with Principal Healthcare Group hospitals ready to support patients whose conditions worsen. The hospital has expanded its ICU rooms for general patients and those from the field hospital.

 

Dr. Athiwat Noiprasit, Chief Performance Coach and Risk and Quality Officer at Principal Healthcare Company and Director of Prince Suvarnabhumi Hospital, discussed the progress of establishing the field hospital: “This is the first time that the private sector, represented by Prince Suvarnabhumi Hospital under Principal Healthcare Group, has collaborated with MQDC, EEC Engineering Network, T&B Media Global, and the Thanin Tevee Chiaravanont Foundation, Ariyawararama Foundation, and Phuttharaksa Foundation, with support from the Bangkaew Subdistrict Municipality and Samut Prakan Province, to establish this field hospital in a highly controlled area.”

Prince Suvarnabhumi Hospital, part of Principal Healthcare Group, is located just 5 kilometers from the field hospital, taking less than 10 minutes to reach. We have support from medical personnel from 11 other branches of Principal Healthcare Group, both in terms of equipment and medical staff to handle the outbreak situation. We closely monitor patients' conditions through the TeleHealth system. Currently, COVID-19 patients in hospitals are nearing full capacity, similar to the three Hospitels with a total of 400 beds that are almost at full occupancy, and many patients are also undergoing Home Isolation based on criteria for mild cases (green) in the hundreds.

The establishment of this field hospital, in collaboration with the private sector, is not only a way to assist the community both within and outside the area but also to relieve the burden on medical personnel and enable proactive screening by hospitals to separate asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients for treatment at the field hospital. If their condition changes or deteriorates, they will be promptly admitted to the hospital. The hospital has invested in expanding ICU rooms by an additional 60, bringing the total to 85 rooms, partly to accommodate the expansion of the field hospital in case patients' conditions worsen and require hospitalization, ensuring timely care and support for patients.”

Mr. Wisit Malaisirirat, CEO of Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited (MQDC), stated: “In terms of construction, the building structure is modular to allow for rapid construction. Inside, we will enhance health safety for both patients and supporting personnel in the field hospital, such as using color-coded zones for clear usage, e.g., red zone for patients, green zone for safe personnel during breaks. We have received construction support from 8 leading construction companies that are our business partners, such as Si Phraya Construction and others. The main area is designed to accommodate 450 beds, divided into 225 male and 225 female patients, primarily focusing on green patients, with an area reserved for 20 light yellow patients, along with necessary equipment for patients requiring oxygen systems, including Highflow ventilators for those with severe symptoms and pneumonia.

 

Additionally, we have received support from Obodroid Corporation, which has provided 12 delivery robots called “Pinto,” widely used in various hospitals during the COVID-19 outbreak, to deliver medications, food, drinks, and essential supplies to patients, reducing the risk of infection for medical staff.

Moreover, we have implemented a telecommunication system between medical personnel and patients called “Boiled Egg Hospital,” a telemedicine system developed by Obodroid Corporation to assist in communication and monitoring patients' conditions, reducing risks for personnel, conserving protective equipment, and enhancing the efficiency of staff operations.

MQDC would like to thank Prince Suvarnabhumi Hospital and all founding partners, as well as the government, including the Bangkaew Subdistrict Municipality in Samut Prakan Province and all agencies that have given us the opportunity to collaborate on this project.

 

Mr. Kesha Teerakomen, Chairman of EEC Engineering Network Group, stated: “This is a great opportunity for EEC Group, employees, and their families to participate in establishing this field hospital. With over 40 years of expertise in healthcare facility design, EEC has prepared this field hospital to meet standards and prevent airborne infection risks to ensure the utmost safety for patients and medical personnel.”

The patient area is equipped with an air conditioning system that supplies 100% fresh air filtered from outside. The air supplied to each patient comes from outside the building, filtered for cleanliness and cooled. The cooling is delivered directly to each patient's bed to control cleanliness and airflow direction, with air being extracted by exhaust fans at the head of the bed. Therefore, the air each patient receives does not circulate from other areas within the building.

The hospital's air pressure is designed to be negative to prevent pathogens from spreading to surrounding areas. The air released outside the building is filtered through HEPA filters with 99.9% efficiency and disinfected with UVGI before being released at a high level above the airflow.

The airflow direction and air pressure in each area have been designed to separate clean air from contaminated air, ensuring the highest safety for our frontline personnel.

Mr. Ekasit Chaleemratwong, CEO of T&B Media Global (Thailand) Co., Ltd., stated: “T&B and our affiliated companies are very pleased to be part of establishing this field hospital. With the increasing number of COVID-19 patients each day, the number of beds in hospitals is insufficient. Establishing field hospitals is another way to help address this issue.

It also increases access to medical treatment for the public and supports the government's efforts to rapidly establish field hospitals. The network of partners working together on this mission includes Principal Healthcare Group, MQDC, EEC Engineering Network, the Thanin Tevee Chiaravanont Foundation, the Ariyawararama Foundation, and the Phuttharaksa Foundation, all collaborating to ensure the success of this project, including fundraising, construction, and setting up various systems to facilitate and ensure the safety of patients, medical personnel, and all stakeholders.

This field hospital represents a beacon of hope, reflecting the commitment of the private sector to assist society, alleviate the suffering of the Thai people, and relieve the burden on the government, so that Thailand can overcome the crisis of the COVID-19 outbreak together.

 

The field hospital will begin accepting patients in August, and construction and operations are currently underway. Contact information will be provided through media channels later.