Plans for the construction of a hospital in Surat Thani surfaced in 1941, during World War II under the intention to upgrade the health provision in the province, as there was only a health station in the area. However, it was delayed due to the Japanese invasion which took place on 8 December of the same year. Funding however, gradually built up and it was decided that a hospital was built in Makham Ria Subdistrict due to good transport links, particularly as the land was next to the main highway into Surat Thani City, and was easily accessible from Surat Thani railway station. Construction began after the war in 1952 and the hospital opened as Surat Thani Hospital on 13 April 1953 with 25 beds. In 1969, with 170 beds, the hospital considered medical education possible at the hospital and a nursing school was set up.