On July 30, Dr Hideto Yoshioka, chief adviser and founder of Japan Heart, expressed gratitude to Buddhist monks and the Cambodian community for their participation in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Asia Children’s Medical Center. 

Despite a smaller turnout than anticipated, the commencement of construction marks a significant milestone for the country’s healthcare sector, as the nation embarks on establishing its first major pediatric oncology clinic.

Yoshioka acknowledged the warm support Japan Heart has received, attributing it to the enduring friendly relations between Japan and Cambodia. 

"The construction of the new hospital is to save the lives of children and create opportunities for them to achieve their future aspirations," he told The Post.

 "We are committed to providing the highest quality medical care and ensuring that all pediatric patients have equal access to treatment at the hospital," he added.

Kuoy Bunthoeun, director of Kandal provincial Department of Health, also spoke at the ceremony, highlighting the strategic health plan's focus on delivering quality, safe, effective and equitable healthcare services to the population. 

"This project aligns with our goals of implementing a more effective health system," he said.

The new centre, an 8,000-square-metre, three-storey facility, will house 100 patient rooms, four operating rooms and 200 beds, staffed by approximately 100 medical professionals. 

The project, with a budget of $13.78 million, is funded by Japan Heart's headquarters and donations from international and local philanthropists.

Located in Kandal province’s Takhmao district, the centre will offer advanced medical care and facilitate the transfer of medical expertise from Japanese specialists to Cambodian doctors. 

The collaboration aims to enhance pediatric cancer treatment and life-saving techniques for children. 

The centre is also dedicated to training and educating local staff to ensure service sustainability, with the goal of reducing child mortality from non-communicable diseases in Southeast Asia.

"The construction of the Asia Children's Medical Center is expected to take 15 months, with completion slated for October 2025," Bunthoeun announced. 

Once operational, the facility is expected to provide outpatient examinations and consultations to about 20,000 patients and perform 3,000 surgeries annually. 

It will also serve as a training ground for medical students, improving the overall quality of the healthcare system by fostering collaboration with partner hospitals, detecting early symptoms of childhood cancer and improving survival rates.

"On behalf of the provincial health department and myself, I would like to express my appreciation to Japan Heart for its mission of over 15 years supporting medical activities in Cambodia by cooperating with the department," said Bunthoeun.

“A doctor in Ponhea Leu Referral Hospital in 2016 began to provide additional cancer treatment services in 2018, treating about 107,043 patients," he added, referring to Yoshioka.

Maiko Kojiro, an infectious disease specialist, emphasised the hospital's commitment to pediatric care without regard to patients' ethnicity or country of origin. 

"The hospital will specialise in pediatric care, focusing on surgery and advanced treatments, aiming to lower child mortality rates," Kojiro stated.

The Venerable Kou Sopheap, chief monk of Nikrot One Kol Toteung Pagoda, who also attended the ceremony, said he was delighted that Japan Heart will open a facility in Takhmao, as it is conveniently located for residents of the area. 

“I hope the mission to establish a Japan Heart hospital for children with cancer will greatly benefit the people, especially Cambodian children,” he said. 

Reflecting on his journey, Yoshioka shared his inspiration for providing medical assistance to developing countries after witnessing the dire conditions in Myanmar in 1995. 

He observed that child death rates in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia were high, and medical services were insufficient and costly.

“Among 10,000 child cancer patients, there was not a single hospital to treat such a deadly disease,” he said. 

Yoshioka noted that families often struggled financially when a child was hospitalised, as one parent had to stop working to provide care.

Understanding the hardships Cambodians faced, Yoshioka decided to focus on helping children. 

"I wanted to build a hospital that could provide medical services for all Cambodian people and poor people from other countries," he said.

He launched the Japan Heart Organisation in 2004 and began providing medical treatment in Cambodia in 2008, eventually building a medical centre in 2016. 

His approach emphasises early detection of symptoms and educating parents on warning signs, such as abnormal features, swelling, tumors or frequent vomiting.

"The Asia Children’s Medical Center is a testament to the enduring friendship between Japan and Cambodia," Yoshioka said. "We are proud of this achievement and will continue working together to reach our shared goals."