Ratchaburi: In a recent extraordinary session of the House of Representatives, Boonying Nitikanchana, an MP for Ratchaburi from the Kla Tham Party, called on the government to allocate a special budget for investment in expanding sub-district health promotion hospitals to better serve remote areas. The goal is to ensure timely medical treatment for residents who currently have limited access to healthcare facilities.

According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Boonying raised her concerns during discussions on the draft bill for the annual budget for fiscal year 2026, which amounts to 3.78 trillion baht. She highlighted that the Ministry of Public Health has been allocated 177,639 million baht, marking a 2.3% increase from the previous year. Despite this increase, Ms. Boonying emphasized that the majority of the population, particularly in rural and remote communities, still lacks access to quality medical services.

Ms. Boonying pointed out that Ratchaburi Province, which consists of 10 districts, faces significant healthcare challenges, with only 5 districts falling within her constituency. Residents have frequently complained about the absence of nearby sub-district hospitals, forcing them to travel long distances for medical care. She recounted a tragic incident where a patient in critical condition died en route to a distant hospital due to inadequate local facilities and staffing.

Data reveals that Thailand is currently facing a shortage of approximately 12,000 doctors and over 30,000 nurses. Many sub-district hospitals lack basic medical equipment, and the investment in primary healthcare remains insufficient compared to the Ministry’s overall budget. Ms. Boonying argued that the budget should focus on equitable distribution of healthcare services rather than merely increasing patient numbers across the system.

Ms. Boonying proposed that the Ministry of Public Health and the Budget Department consider allocating a special investment budget to expand healthcare services in remote communities. This includes procuring essential equipment such as emergency diagnostic kits and mobile medical devices, as well as accelerating the recruitment and fair distribution of medical personnel. She also advocated for training village health volunteers and developing sub-district doctors to provide comprehensive community care.

In her concluding remarks, Ms. Boonying expressed her support for the current budget draft but stressed that geographical distance should not delay medical care or diminish hope for those living far from healthcare facilities. She urged that the budget be used to ensure equal access to treatment, fulfilling the basic expectation of timely medical help. She hoped that the concerns from Ratchaburi would lead to actionable policy changes, not just remain discussions in the conference room.