Clinic closed by govt after traffic death

via CAAI News Media

Monday, 15 March 2010 15:04 Tep Nimol

THE Health Ministry has opted to shut down a medical clinic that was accused of negligence in its treatment of a man who succumbed to injuries sustained in a traffic accident last week, the director of the Phnom Penh Municipal Health Department said Sunday.

Ty Somala, 49, died on March 7 after an accident in Stung Meanchey commune in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district. His relatives blamed the death on employees of the Cambodian Virtuous Professional Association clinic for failing to treat him while transporting him from the scene of the crash to the hospital.

“The association ran a health-care business without approval from the Ministry of Health and was shut down,” Sok Sokun, the municipal Health Department director, said Sunday. “It will be allowed to reopen only after it receives an official licence to operate from the ministry.”

Sok Sokun said the Cambodian Virtuous Professional Association clinic was formerly known as Bopha Meas, a clinic that was shut down late last year, after officials deemed its staff to be insufficiently trained.

Soeun Sothea, manager of the Cambodian Virtuous Medical Professional Association clinic, could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

Sean Borith, the brother-in-law of Ty Somala, said Sunday that he welcomed the Health Ministry’s decision to shut down the clinic.

“The clinic was illegally operating and has been closed down once already, but it still ran its business in violation of the ministry’s decision,” said Sean Borith. “The clinic cannot adequately treat patients. The ministry must take strict measures against this clinic so it can’t operate under another name and cheat residents again.”

Mok Chito, head of the Interior Ministry’s penal police, said he had received a complaint filed by Ty Somala’s family against the clinic and had launched an investigation.

“We will take action on the case after the victim’s funeral is completed,” Mok Chito said.