Kampot Referral Hospital

What kind of hospital this is

This is a government hospital, run by the Cambodian Ministry of Health. Its budget comes from the state and from donor organisations. Over recent years it has been upgraded with help from bodies including the World Health Organization (WHO), USAID and the Australian government.

As a referral centre, it receives cases passed on from smaller clinics and health posts around the province. It has about 200 beds and roughly 200 staff, including doctors, nurses and support workers. On site are an operating theatre, a laboratory, a radiology department and a pharmacy.

Emergency care

The emergency department is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week. It is staffed by doctors and nurses trained for a broad range of emergencies. The hospital also runs ambulances fitted with basic life support equipment.

For a serious accident or sudden illness in or near Kampot, this is the nearest large public facility to head for.

Main departments

• Surgery: general, orthopaedic and gynaecological operations in the hospital's operating theatre.
• Obstetrics and gynaecology: antenatal care, delivery and postnatal care, with a maternity ward run by midwives and obstetricians. Fetal monitors and ultrasound are used to check mother and baby.
• Paediatrics: a children's ward for patients under 18, with neonatal incubators and paediatric ventilators for critically ill children.
• Internal medicine: diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and respiratory disease.
• Diagnostics: blood, urine and microbiology tests in the laboratory, plus X-ray, ultrasound and CT scans in radiology.

Specialist clinics

Three dedicated clinics sit alongside the main wards.

• HIV/AIDS clinic: antiretroviral therapy, counselling and support for patients, and HIV testing and counselling open to the general public.
• Tuberculosis clinic: diagnosis, treatment, counselling and support, with TB testing and counselling also available to the public.
• Mental health clinic: diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia, with counselling for patients and their families.

Limits to be aware of

Like many public hospitals in lower-income countries, this one works with limited resources, staff shortages and tight funding. It depends heavily on donors for equipment, supplies and staff salaries. Many Cambodian health professionals prefer better-paid jobs in the private sector or in larger cities, which makes recruitment and retention hard.

Reaching the hospital is also difficult for many rural residents, who may face long journeys. Outreach programmes bring care to remote areas, but funding and staffing keep them small.

Travellers and expats who want a private option can compare the other clinics in town. Anyone with travel medical insurance should check what their policy requires before choosing a facility.