«A big step for development»
SDC Director-General Patricia Danzi visited the Kantha Bopha children's hospitals during her official trip to the Mekong region. The SDC has supported the development of the clinics since the early 1990s. Today they are an integral part of the Cambodian healthcare system.
Every day, around 3,000 children and young people receive free medical care in the Kantha Bopha hospitals. Founded by the late Zurich paediatrician Beat Richner and developed with Swiss support, the hospitals are testament to what can be achieved through cooperation. More than 22 million patients have been treated since the hospitals were founded. SDC Director-General Patricia Danzi was therefore keen to pay a visit to the hospital in Siem Reap during her official trip to the Mekong region.
On her visit, Ms Danzi noted that the hospitals have significantly improved Cambodian healthcare services over the past 30 years, especially for children, and have set new standards in the sector. «They offer high-quality healthcare and provide a model for well-functioning healthcare infrastructure in one of Asia's poorer countries.»
Today, the Kantha Bopha hospitals care for more than 85% of all sick and injured children in the country – and employ some 2,600 Cambodians. They are now run as public university hospitals and are an integral part of the country's healthcare system. In Ms Danzi's words, «it is a big step for development».
Developing the health insurance system
Cambodia's economy and living standards have also improved over the past 30 years and the Kantha Bopha hospitals have built up a solid funding base during this time. During this period, the SDC's contribution has fallen to less than 10% of the hospitals' total budget. «The SDC's financial contribution has always been important because this firm support from the Swiss Confederation sends a strong signal to Swiss donors and the Cambodian authorities,» explains Dr Philip Robinson, chairman of the hospitals' board of trustees.
The cooperation is now in its final phase, with core financial support from the Swiss Confederation to be gradually phased out by 2027. Until then, the SDC will work closely with the foundation to shore up long-term financing for the Kantha Bopha hospitals.
Shared learning – mutual cooperation
The Kantha Bopha clinics are university hospitals, which has made them recognised training centres for Cambodian doctors. Their high standards of medical care and training are partly the result of close cooperation with the University Children's Hospital Zurich and other Swiss hospitals. Renowned professors, chief physicians and nursing specialists regularly travel to Cambodia to help train their colleagues.
As of this year, however, expertise has also been shared in the other direction. For the first time, Swiss students have the opportunity to spend two months of their elective year in the obstetrics and paediatrics department and the paediatric surgery department in Siem Reap. Rachel Puthukara and Jan Reich are the first students to take part in the programme:
«Making a difference»
«We can learn a lot here»
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