Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital (SiPH), wholly owned by Siriraj Hospital, has allocated 400 million baht to upgrade information technology (IT) and medical equipment over the next two years.
SiPH director Prof Pradit Panchavinnin said the investment was aimed at improving the IT system in order to retain its position as Thailand's leading state-owned hospital.
The project will help to enhance the efficiency of medical services by linking data from patients, doctors and laboratories, he said.
Pooling data will help to shorten the period of treatment and rehabilitation and reduce paperwork.
"This project will help to cut paperwork and human errors," Prof Pradit said, adding that switching to a paperless system would be a new challenge for Thailand's medical system.
He said the hospital was currently seeking a project consultant, a process that should be completed this year.
The IT investment will cover a digital pharmacy dispensing system aimed at increasing the accuracy and ensuring patients receive the right medicine and treatment for their illness.
With the new system, patients can be assured their medicines are prescribed by their doctor with data that will be closely monitored before they are collected.
The IT system will also cover the upgrading of cancer treatments. This will help to boost the efficiency of chemotherapy as well as shorten the length of treatment.
In addition, the new IT system will cover a plan to use robots in operations.
Prof Pradit expects SiPH's 2015 revenue will grow by 37.6% to 3 billion baht from last year's 2.18 billion.
The number of patients this year is expected to increase by 30% to 313,780 outpatients and 11,368 inpatients.
Prof Pradit said four specialised clinics were expected to open this year.
They are an eye clinic, dental clinic, rehabilitation clinic and ear, nose and throat clinic.
Over the past three years, SiPH has opened four specialised clinics covering the heart, cancer, gastroenterology, and bones and joints.
This year, the hospital expects to raise its service capacity to 70% of its full complement of 365 beds.
Prof Pradit said 2016 would be the fourth full year of operation, and SiPH expects to at least break even if not move into the black.
SiPH operates its business in the same manner as high-end private hospitals but is wholly owned by Siriraj, the state hospital with the largest number of beds.
It was the first state hospital to be accredited by several international medical bodies.
Although it provides first-class medical services, SiPH has a low profit margin of 10-12%, well below the 15-20% of private hospitals.
A substantial part of SiPH's profit is set aside to offset losses of Siriraj Hospital, which provides services to millions of people, mostly low-income earners.