Better Healthcare, Next Mandate: Minister
Cambodians remain frustrated with a health system that leads to corruption. (24 June 2008)
Cambodia'shealth system remains poor, but in the time since the last general election,the government has worked hard to improve it and hopes to do more in the nextterm, the nation's top health official said. Health Minister Nuth Sokhum, a member of the coalitionFuncinpec party, said the government was working hard to fix the problems inthe health system, building 40 health care centers around Cambodia sincethe last election and providing additional training to doctors on professionalethics. The government hoped to do more in the next term, he said,especially to take better care of women and child health issues, he said. Cambodians in rural areas like Kampong Thom province are nothappy with the healthcare they see at the district level. One mother told VOAKhmer the local doctor gave her son an injection without informing her, thenimpolitely demanded money. John Saroeun, who works for the health NGO Maristop in theprovince, said many rural citizens face the same difficulties. Doctors comelate for work, leave for an early lunch and take the rest of the day off, hesaid. Many people have lost faith in the health care system. Eventhough doctors have the ability to do their jobs, they are not paid well,forcing them to resort to corruption, Saroeun said. Despite government promises to improve the situation,competing parties are looking for ways to exploit these health care woes as theelection approaches.