How does the healthcare system work in Cambodja?

What is the quality of healthcare in Cambodia?

• Unfortunately, Cambodia’s healthcare system still has many problems. For example, a universal social security system was created in 2008, but it still only covers 10% of the working population.
• Cambodia’s healthcare system consists of both public and private institutions. Private institutions are preferred by foreigners because of their quality.
• For more serious problems, you are advised to seek help abroad, such as in Thailand, Vietnam or Singapore.
• The local emergency number is 119, but the system does not always work well (sometimes the answer is not given) and ambulances may not meet the expectations of most foreigners. It is wise to keep an emergency number of a private hospital in your pocket.
• There are many pharmacies, not all of which are of the same good quality. Cambodia has strict regulations, but despite this, many medicines can be bought without a prescription. There are also many counterfeit medicines on the market. It is wisest to buy medicines from the larger pharmacy chains in Phnom Penh.

How does the public healthcare system work in Cambodia?

• The Ministry of Health oversees the public healthcare system. The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) provides very limited healthcare coverage for people working in the private sector.
• The public healthcare system has made great strides in the past twenty years. However, many problems remain. For example, the public sector struggles with limited resources and infrastructure. The quality of care in public hospitals is often substandard, especially outside the major cities.
• Clinics generally provide standard/basic care, while hospitals provide more specialized care.
• Unfortunately, there is often a shortage of staff and the condition of the facilities is very poor.
• English is not always spoken in public healthcare institutions.

How does the private healthcare system work in Cambodia?

• There are a limited number of institutions that provide care at a reasonable level. These are mainly found in Phnom Penh, such as the Royal Phnom Penh Hospital and some in Siem Reap and other cities.
• Private clinics are a lot more expensive than public healthcare and in serious cases they cannot provide the right care due to the lack of equipment and specialists. In that case, medical evacuation to Singapore or Bangkok, for example, is necessary.
• In rural areas, there are generally no good private institutions.

How is the general practitioner arranged in Cambodia?

• Cambodia does not work with a general practitioner system. There are general practitioners/family doctors available at private clinics.
• It can be useful to ask others for recommendations for a good private clinic. Most options can be found in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

How is the dentist arranged in Cambodia?

• There are both public and private dental clinics. Despite the state of the rest of the healthcare system, the dental care is of good quality and very cheap. This makes the country a popular medical attraction for oral care.
• Dentists generally speak good English in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

How is pregnancy care arranged in Cambodia?

• There is good private pregnancy care in Cambodia. For local women, outside the cities in remote areas, this is different. There is often no pregnancy care available and women go through pregnancy without professional help. 89% of births take place outside health centers and only 32% of births are attended by professional care workers.
• Many women choose to give birth abroad, but nowadays a limited number of private clinics and hospitals (especially Thai) offer relatively good pregnancy care, both prenatal and postnatal. It is useful to talk to other foreigners about their experiences.
• Pain medication for labor may not be available everywhere.
• Abortion is legal in Cambodia up to 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, specific rules apply for an abortion to be legal.

How safe or unsafe is a trip or stay in Cambodia?

What should you pay attention to in terms of safety in Cambodia?

• Cambodia is fairly safe. Violent crimes against foreigners are rare and the locals are known for their friendliness and helpfulness.
• In tourist areas, pickpocketing and bag snatching do occur. It is also wise to watch out for phone snatching from scooters.
• “Drink spiking” occasionally occurs in Cambodia. Keep a close eye on your drinks.
• There are still landmines in remote areas. Stay on the main roads when traveling outside of the cities.
• Flooding occurs during the rainy season and high air pollution can occur during the dry season.

What should you look out for in terms of diseases in Cambodia?

• There are several health risks in Cambodia. For example, mosquito-borne diseases occur, especially in the rainy season. Protect yourself well against mosquitoes by wearing covering clothing and using spray.
• Food poisoning and stomach problems are also common.
• Heat-related problems can occur due to the heat in combination with extreme humidity.
• Discuss the vaccination advice with a good vaccination doctor well before departure.

What should you pay attention to when it comes to traffic in Cambodia?

• In Cambodia you will come to the country of many motorbikes and few traffic rules. Foreigners usually drive a scooter or take taxis.
• Do not expect people to adhere to the traffic rules or that you will be given priority as a pedestrian. People drive quite aggressively and it can take quite some getting used to if you want to participate in traffic as a newcomer.
• In Phnom Penh and Siem Reap the roads are reasonable, in the countryside the roads are bad and can flood.
• Buses between major cities are cheap and popular among travelers.
• Apps such as Grab and PassApp are popular and reasonably safe to use.

What work and travel insurance policies are suitable for short and long stays in Cambodia?

• Is the trip to Cambodia and your return sufficiently covered? Are you sufficiently covered before, during and after your activities? Which insurance best suits your trip and your activity? Read more about insurances for abroad on JoHoinsurances.org.

What emigration and expat insurance can you take out for Cambodia if you are going to live there for a while?

• It is strongly recommended for expats and emigrants to take out comprehensive international health insurance that covers medical evacuation, as complex medical treatments often have to be carried out in neighbouring countries such as Thailand or Singapore. Read more about insurances for abroad on Expatinsurances.org.