The Ministry of Health called on private hospital and clinics approved – or seeking approval – to test and treat Covid-19 patients to offer suitable prices for their services.
Hok Kim Cheng, director-general for health at the Ministry of Health, on April 25 said a handful of licensed medical facilities had applied after the ministry gave the green light for licensed private hospitals and clinics to treat Covid-19.
“The ministry issued a clear instruction about this, with the intention for our people to get treatment services at private hospitals.
“The ministry has already considered what the suitable prices that private hospitals can charge are – they should not focus on making a profit,” he said, adding that the ministry requires these facilities to publicly disclose their prices.
Private hospitals and clinics will use rapid Covid-19 testing devices, known as the Rapid Antigen Test for Covid-19, he said, calling on them to contribute their resources during this difficult time.
“We won’t allow them to use the rapid test device [as a pretext] to track down people as they’d wish to. The device is used only for those come to the hospital for a test,” he said.
According to Kim Cheng, there are 35 treatment facilities and hospitals for mild Covid-19 cases across the country.
Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng urged private hospitals and clinics in Phnom Penh to submit a request to test and treat Covid-19 patients in order to ease the burden on state hospitals.
