The Covid-19 pandemic has brought to even greater light the importance of the private healthcare delivery system, one that plays a vital role in filling the gap in healthcare service provision.

During these challenging times, with the Kingdom stepping up efforts to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, the Royal Phnom Penh Hospital is playing its part by contributing to the much needed medical support.

The modern Thai hospital, which started its operations in October 2014, has mobilised its resources to combat the ongoing pandemic.

“During the early [days] of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Royal Phnom Penh Hospital was at the forefront with the Cambodia government and international experts from Ministry of Health, the Centres of Disease Control, the World Health Organization and Institut Pasteur du Cambodge in dealing head on with Covid-19 patient diagnosis and treatment.

“The Royal Phnom Penh hospital is strong and capable enough to deal with future and unknown endemics and pandemics,” Dr Narintara Boonjongcharoen, hospital director of The Royal Bangkok Hospital Group in Cambodia, told The Post.

The hospital’s helipad ensures the easy and rapid transfer of patients. Photo supplied

Royal Phnom Penh Hospital is a member of Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS), which is a public company in Thailand.

Located on Russian Confederation Boulevard, the 100-bed hospital is also equipped with a heliport service.

It employs around 20 per cent international staff, while 80 per cent are local personnel.

It is the first and only Joint Commission International accredited hospital in the Kingdom, Boonjongcharoen said.

With its ultra-modern facilities and specialist doctors, the hospital is rolling out high-quality medical care for Cambodians and the expatriate community.

Highly trained staff are ready to handle any emergency. Photo supplied

“One of our main contributions to Cambodia’s healthcare is having raised standards of care to internationally accepted levels by getting accredited by [US-based global certification organisation] Joint Commission International in 2017.

“International travellers, tourists, diplomats and volunteers feel safer when they have learned that the Kingdom of Cambodia has an international standard hospital to take care of them year-round, and help them to repatriate home safely should they fall ill.

“The hospital, through our BDMS network, has been recognised by health insurance companies and emergency centres around the world in helping assist patients clinically and financially,” Boonjongcharoen said.

Treatments carried out at the hospital include, among others, mother and child care; strokes; brain trauma; sepsis; trauma and orthopaedic surgery; and acute myocardial infarctions and heart disease.

According to Cambodia’s Health Strategic Plan 2016-2020, there are approximately 1,000 public healthcare facilities and 8,000 private medical care providers across the Kingdom.

The Royal Phnom Penh Hospital provides medical consultations by in-house Thai and international specialists, and organises supporting tele-conferences with sub-specialists from Bangkok Hospital and the BDMS network.

This ensures the high quality of medical standards of practice is maintained to deliver the highest levels of patient safety.

The hospital’s staff are well trained in advanced medical training to deal with emergency and life-threatening situations.