Impact’s huge Challenger Hall set up as fully equipped field hospital

The premier was accompanied by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda.

“This field hospital has been set up in cooperation with many parties and will be supervised by the Public Health Ministry,” Prayut said in his opening speech. “It is part of the government’s efforts to handle the outbreak, which includes establishing more field hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients and setting up vaccine venues and staff to inoculate as many people as possible.

“We still have the ability to handle the situation better than many other countries. So, don’t lose hope or point fingers at each other,” he added. “We may have to do our best work yet, but at least what we have done is not our worst.”

Prayut also thanked frontline medics for sacrificing their time and effort to keep Covid-19 at bay. “I wish this Bussarakham Hospital will help fulfil our mission in controlling the outbreak and help us overcome this crisis together,” the premier said.

Bussarakham Hospital, set up in Impact’s Challenger Hall, can accommodate 1,200 patients right away and has enough space for another 3,000 to 5,000 beds. The hospital will be staffed with 780 medical professionals, who will work in three shifts at 260 personnel per shift. The hospital is also equipped with respirators for patients who develop severe symptoms.