The UNTAC Medical Center is set to close on Oct. 31, the same day as the Field Hospital,

accordingto an official from UN Administration in Phnom Penh.

A 24-hour first aid and doctor service will be available at UN headquarters until

Nov. 9 and the last German medical staff are set to leave by Nov. 15.

The future of medical services is unclear as a decision is awaited from UN headquarters

in New York but there will be some medical facility remaining to serve UNTAC staff

until the end of the year. The service will remain available to all.

The decision is complicated because the German medics are all military personnel

and should leave by Nov 15., the end of UNTAC's mandate.

"It's a political decision rather than a logical decision," said the official.

SLH.