The governor says illegal dental clinics and phamarcies can cause public harm. Hong Menea
Phnom Penh municipal governor Khuong Sreng has ordered his officials to close unauthorised dental clinics and pharmacies in their localities to prevent public harm.
Sreng said he is concerned that unprofessional health practitioners can increase the risks of being infected with Covid-19.
The order was revealed in an announcement which transferred the management of the Department of Health to the Phnom Penh municipal administration on June 12, said a Fresh News report.
Sreng said he has observed businesses operating in Phnom Penh without permits.
He instructed health department officials to urgently and efficiently complete this task to ensure that no such offences occur in Phnom Penh.
The governors of Phnom Penh’s 14 districts, he said, must find out how many legal and illegal clinics are operating in their districts.
“Some dentists do not have the proper permits to operate and the health department must close those businesses. Due to Covid-19, unprofessional dentists can cause trouble.
“In all 14 districts, all clinics without legal permission to operate, not just dental clinics, need to be closed immediately,” he said.
Phnom Penh municipal health department director Ngy Mean Heng told The Post that there are not many illegal clinics operating in the capital because authorities have cooperated to educate, advise and fine all offenders.
He said officials visit no less than 10 facilities a month. The offending clinics, he pointed out, mostly start their business first before asking for legal permission.
“Those who are new to running a business are not well aware of the laws. They open their businesses before requesting permission. This is the reason we educate them. We fine them if they still do not follow our orders.”
Por Sen Chey district governor Hem Darith told The Post on Sunday that no dental clinics or pharmacies are operating without permission in his district because his officials have paid close attention to this issue.
He said residents in his district have been informed by officials to be wary of illegal clinics and they do not support businesses which are operating without legal permission.
“We don’t have any more cases now because we do this work [according to Sreng’s order] regularly. We have agents to check all communes. If there are illegal businesses, we immediately tell them to get proper permission,” he said.
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