Hospital director Pol Lt-General Witoon Nitiwarangkul said the hospital already had high standards and efficient safety measures in place because there had been rallies in its vicinity in the past.

“We have high standards of safety but have not been so strict. I don’t think we will have to scan baskets or flower vases brought in for patients because the hospital has to offer convenience for patients and visitors,” the director said.

However, after the explosion at Phramongkutklao Hospital on Monday, he instructed officials to reinforce their safety checks at entrances. One area of focus will be checking garbage cans to watch for people placing dangerous items inside them.

VIP areas and emergency and operating rooms will also be monitored more carefully as more security personnel were deployed to the hospital.

There are 190 security cameras at key areas of inside the hospital and 300 more distributed around the premises.

Witoon added that hospitals should not be targets in any conflict.