The Cabinet meeting approved the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine at Nakhon Phanom University with a budget of 2.502 billion baht to increase the number of doctors and address the shortage in upper northeastern Thailand.
On 28 April 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Lalida Pertwiwatthana, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, revealed that the Cabinet approved the project to establish the Faculty of Medicine at Nakhon Phanom University with a total budget of 2.502 billion baht over a 10-year period, from fiscal years 2027 to 2036, to solve the shortage of doctors in the upper northeastern region.
The project aims to train doctors from local areas who will return to serve their home communities. The first medical student cohort will be admitted in the 2028 academic year, and by 2036, it is expected to produce at least 71 additional doctors for the region, with 216 medical students currently enrolled.
Key aspects of the project include establishing a Faculty of Medicine that meets the standards of the Medical Council and the Institute for Medical Education Accreditation, developing the medical curriculum, enhancing academic and support personnel, and upgrading Nakhon Phanom, Loei, and Yasothon hospitals to become clinical medical education centers.
Ms. Lalida stated that Thailand still faces uneven distribution of doctors, especially in provincial areas and the upper northeast, where many people must travel long distances for medical services. Establishing this Faculty of Medicine is a long-term investment to develop healthcare personnel that meet the real needs of the area.
“This project is not just about opening a new faculty; it is about producing doctors who will return to care for their hometowns, reduce healthcare disparities, and allow people in upper northeastern Thailand easier access to quality medical care near their homes.”