In front of RPRH with staff from the Hospital, KPRH and FIDR officials

The Pediatric Surgery Project (PSP) is undertaking various activities to strengthen Kratie Provincial Referral Hospital (KPRH) as a trusted facility capable of providing appropriate medical treatments and surgery to the people of northeastern Cambodia.

Ratanakiri Province, located in northeastern Cambodia and close to the borders of Vietnam and Laos, faces even greater challenges for residents in accessing medical treatments compared to those in Kratie Province. While traveling from KPRH to Phnom Penh takes about 5–6 hours, it requires 8 - 9 hours from Ratanakiri Provincial Referral Hospital (RPRH) to the capital.

RPRH also lacks sufficient medical equipment and has a limited number of medical staff. As a result, they are only able to perform minor surgeries, while more severe cases often require transfers to urban hospitals in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and so on.

Despite limited resources, we learned that the staff at RPRH are dedicated to improving the hospital for their patients. They work as a team to enhance the hospital environment, their medical skills and knowledge. Although these improvements are still ongoing, the hospital was observed to be very clean and hygienic.

During the visit, staff from both hospitals participated in an exchange of ideas. Mr. Mani, Head Nurse of the Surgical Department at KPRH, remarked “The large waiting area at RPRH and the covered walkways between wards, which protect patients from the weather, are important features that make patients feel comfortable.”

Mr. Sokuen, Head Nurse of the Operation Department at KPRH also stated “Currently, RPRH lacks the equipment and personnel to handle complex surgeries, but I believe their facilities will improve in the future.”

Dr. Kheng Mab, Vice Director of KPRH, explained to the RPRH staff: “Thanks to the support from FIDR, our surgeons at KPRH have improved their skills, enabling us to treat a broader range of surgical cases.” In response, the Ratanakiri team said: “If that’s the case, we may be able to send patients to KPRH instead of transferring them to the capital over a longer distance.”　

Staff at KPRH (right) asks questions during a tour of the operating theater at RPRH

Staff from RPRH and KPRH introduce their respective hospitals to one another, with FIDR staff also present.

Through this visit, KPRH and RPRH were able to share their strengths and challenges, taking an important step toward future collaboration.  Next, the staff from RPRH will visit KPRH so that they assess whether patient transfers to KPRH would benefit patients.

If some patients from Ratanakiri, who would otherwise travel to urban areas, can receive appropriate medical treatments at KPRH, it will reduce the travel time and mitigate the financial burden on patients. Furthermore, mutual learning between the two regional hospitals will enhance the quality of medical services, creating a more reliable environment for treatment.