Cambodia is not exactly renowned for its quality of health care. Not only is it expensive, but it is hard to come by.

According to Socheata Sann, a PhD candidate researching road crashes, distance is a huge problem for accident victims needing ongoing medical care.

Forty per cent of the people she interviewed in Physical Rehabilitation Centres (PRCs) had to travel to a different province in order to access some sort of rehabilitation service.

And the problem is exacerbated by disorganisation.

“Many doctors tell patients that they need to transfer to another clinic, and then to another clinic. This [delay in treatment] can impact the severity of the injuries. One person said very clearly that when he reached a hospital [that could treat them], the doctor said it was too late and they needed to cut off his leg,” Sann said.

“The way I understand it, is if he could have reached the first health care facility, he might not have lost the leg,” she continued.

She added that this issue is probably more prevalent in rural areas where the only form of transportation to hospital or other treatment centre may be – rather ironically – a motorbike.