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Cambodia’s Medical
Scene Enjoying Excellent Health
This is the first supplement The Cambodia Daily has tackled on
medical facilities in Cambodia. It’s doubtful if even five years
ago, there would have been enough to write about.
Today, though, there are legions of doctors practicing, a variety
of inpatient facilities and a surprising variety of other medical
services on offer.
This supplement does not in any way claim to evaluate the medical
services. It is all too easy for an unqualified person to set up
shop as a professional here and, at least for a while, do business
just like a legitimate provider.
Look carefully for evidence of qualifications when selecting a
doctor or hospital and talk to other residents about the service
they have received. One local cynic urges a prospective patient to
consider the levels of corruption in the country where a
practitioner qualified. “You don’t want a doctor from a place
where you can buy your way through medical school,” is the
cynic’s jibe, and the caution does bear thought.
For most Westerners, cleanliness is a priority and grubby
examining rooms are not acceptable, even when the provider’s
credentials are impeccable. Consider, too, whether the
sterilization standards are high and, classically, require to see
any injection equipment removed from a sealed package before
letting anyone use it on you.
Language is vital; find a physician who understands what you are
saying and whom you understand. It is also highly desirable that
the communications channels work well.
Most doctors seem to operate on a hand phone, which is fine all
the time that service is operating efficiently. Land lines should
be answered by someone competent in your language and when a
clinic’s phone is answered with a giggle and a dopey “Allo,”
it does not bode well for the level of efficiency.
But all the caveats considered, there are many fine practitioners
in Phnom Penh and Cambodian health-care workers are being given
considerable training in an effort to make their work more
acceptable. Some politicians may go to Bangkok to have their ears
cleaned, but always remember that Prime Minister Hun Sen found
Calmette Hospital good enough for him when his appendix needed
removal.
May you remain healthy for all your days here, but if you do need
care, we hope ‘Good Medicine’ will be a guide to at least some
of the facilities available here.
—Elizabeth Wright
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