Establishing Comprehensive Cancer Care in Cambodia

Abstract

Abstract Radiotherapy and cancer care did not exist at all during the civil wars in Cambodia, and of course, the cancer care was not a priority soon after the wars until 2003 when a Cobalt-60 machine was in full operation at the Khmer Soviet Friendship Hospital. However, this was still just the beginning of re-establishing cancer treatments for Cambodians. Due to the economic growth and the expansion of the middle-class in the past two decades, more people have access to provincial and national hospitals for the diagnosis of cancer, although the standard of facilities is not the same as in high-income countries. More medical specialties have also emerged in response to demands. These factors and others have finally resulted in the planning of the national cancer center project at the Calmette Hospital in Cambodia. The government, the World Health Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency and multiple international partners have collaboratively worked to achieve the goals. The presentation will highlight the most essential milestones to realize some of the goals as of today, the challenges and the prospects of the project.