Hun Sen commits to improving health services

Cambodge Soir

06-10-2008

During the opening of the 5-day National Congress of Health on Monday 6 October, the Prime Minister made an assessment of the results of the Kingdom’s health services. He highlighted a few weaknesses.


The government leader summoned the Minister of Health “to improve the services related to his sector and to fight against certain negative activities committed by the staff”. For what concerns Hun Sen, the lack of respect of the ethical code, knowing that the health care staff only thinks about earning money, resulted in a loss of confidence from the users and encouraged Cambodians to seek health solutions abroad. “One shouldn’t neglect the questions of ethics. During this mandate we’ll give more importance to public services”, said Hun Sen. He reminded the audience about a few examples which he qualifies as being “staggering”. “In some hospitals the doctor asks the patient for whom he’s voting. When a penniless patient arrives at the hospital, nobody takes care of him… The health care staff has to help people and they have to help society in its development”, insisted the Prime Minister.

Another negative aspect which he brought up is the one of ambulance services belonging to private clinics. Hun Sen sharply criticised the situation; the ambulances can be compared to taxis picking up customers. For the Prime Minister, unscrupulous health carestaff is responsible for those acts, and he asked the Minister of Health to take care of this problem.