With the construction of two new buildings at Kroch Chhmar District Referral Hospital now complete, the facilities were formally inaugurated on April 3, in a ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen. The upgrades and expansion to the hospital's infrastructure, which included modernisation of existing facilities, came at a cost of $1.4 million.
The hospital is located in Khsach Pracheu Leu village of Krouch Chhmar commune in Tbong Khmum province's Krouch Chhmar district.
According to the Ministry of Health, the new facilities were built on the site of the old referral hospital and are equipped with modern medical technology donated by the premier. The renovations were led by Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Chea Sophara.
The hospital consists of general wards, surgery wards, emergency rooms, an inpatient department, on-site testing laboratories, ultrasound and x-ray departments, obstetrics, gynecology, paediatrics and oral care departments as well as a pharmacy.
Health minister Mam Bun Heng said at the inauguration that the hospital would make a significant contribution to the coverage of global health services to the population of this remote area, ensuring that no one there would go without access to healthcare.
“Our achievement of better health services across the country today can be attributed to the peace and stability indispensable to all development that has been achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen,” he added.
Hun Sen noted that the hospital is large and well-equipped enough to serve the needs of nearby communities as well.
"Krouch Chhmar district used to be considered a very remote area and it did not have much infrastructure. Before, even patients who required emergency treatment would have to travel very far," he said.
He noted that Covid-19 had reminded all Cambodians to remain vigilant about protecting their health in a way that was unprecedented in the Kingdom.
“When Covid-19 hit, we strengthened our ability to treat diseases everywhere. Our people may all be of different colours, religions and political affiliations, but they all have some common needs: medical treatment and peace,” he stated.
