The Minister of Public Health, Somsak Thepsuthin, opened a new five-story building to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Luang Por Koon Hospital, now equipped for inpatient care and physical therapy.
The 101st Anniversary Health Park serves as a venue for health-promoting activities, honoring Luang Por Koon’s contributions to healthcare and medicine. The minister also reported that the Diabetes School in Dan Khun Thot successfully helped over 60% of participants reduce or discontinue medication.
On October 4, 2024, at Luang Por Koon Hospital, Minister Somsak presided over the dedication ceremony for a statue of Phra Thep Witthayakhom (Luang Por Koon) and the opening of the new building and health park. He was joined by Dr. Opas Karnkawinphong, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, health officials, hospital staff, and community health volunteers.
Minister Somsak highlighted the Ministry of Public Health’s commitment to enhancing the capacity of hospitals to better meet community needs. He noted the continuous development of Luang Por Koon Hospital, which has relocated to accommodate a larger patient base and improve service access.
Since 2016, the hospital has built various facilities, fully operational since early 2024. This community hospital currently has 120 beds, serving a population of over 123,000 in Dan Khun Thot district.
The hospital offers specialized services, including internal medicine, general surgery, orthopedics, pediatrics, emergency medicine, cataract surgery, family medicine, CT scans, and gastrointestinal endoscopy. Plans are in place to further upgrade services in line with government health policies, such as becoming a center for surgical services and increasing access to dialysis treatments.
Construction of the 100th Anniversary Building began in May 2020, funded by the Ministry of Public Health at a cost of 80,190,000 baht. The five-story facility has 114 beds, featuring male and female internal medicine wards, a physical therapy and traditional medicine department, and special wards.
The building opened on April 1, 2024. The 101st Anniversary Health Park has been transformed into an exercise area and a space for health-promoting activities, funded by donations from the local community amounting to 2,400,000 baht. Both the new building and health park honor Luang Por Koon’s significant contributions to religion, education, and healthcare.
Furthermore, Minister Somsak noted that Nakhon Ratchasima province serves as a model for reducing chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), a priority for the government. Luang Por Koon Hospital has established a diabetes school and mentors four other healthcare facilities in Dan Khun Thot.
A total of 81 students participated in the program, including 74 diabetes patients and 7 at-risk individuals. The program focuses on lifestyle changes, such as adopting low-carbohydrate diets and intermittent fasting alongside exercise.
The outcomes indicate a 20.4% rate of medication cessation and a 48.2% reduction in dosages among participants, with 20 individuals still pending evaluation. The program has resulted in an annual medication cost reduction of 22,797.55 baht. Plans to expand the diabetes school to seven additional locations in Dan Khun Thot aim to further decrease the prevalence of NCDs in the community.
