Cambodia currently has only 7 Pathologists, three of whom almost reach their retirement age. Three of them got their one-year training in France, while the other two (the younger ones) were trained in Germany. One of the younger Pathologists, Dr. Serey Vathana Chhut was trained in Ghent, Belgium, for one year in 1999. At present, they all work in various Pathology laboratories in the capital city, Phnom Penh.  

The history of Pathology in Cambodia cannot be completely documented because most of the documents were destroyed during the Khmer Rouge regime. The first Cambodian Pathologist was Prof. Dr. Sao Rin Tep Mam who was trained in France after the Second World War. From 1965-1975, she was the Director of the Department of Pathology and Anatomic Pathology of the University of Health Sciences in Phnom Penh. For 2 years, she was Director of the University, and from 1965-1968, she was also Minister of Health in Cambodia. In 1968, she was imprisoned by the Pol Pot regime and killed in an unknown place.

Prof. Dr. Sao Rin Tep Mam, the first Cambodian Pathologist

An outstanding pathologist, Dr.Nicolai Kajenov from Minsk in Russia, was the Head of the Department of Anatomy and Pathology at the Cambodian-Russian Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh from 1988-1991. He was the teacher of the present Head of Department, Dr. Mar Sy Samang.

Professor Michel Pluot, a Pathologist and Professor of Pathology in Rheims, France, has been helping with the operation and sustainability of the Pathology lab in Calmette hospital, one of the biggest hospitals in Phnom Penh.

Dr. Gerhard Stauch, a German Pathologist, has also been supporting Dr. Serey Vathana Chhut in running a Pathology lab in Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope and Sam Ang Cheng in a Pathology lab in Preah Bat Kossamak Hospital in Phnom Penh.

Dr. Thanasith Tan works as an instructor of Histology at the University of Health Sciences, and Dr. Pheng An Ly is in charge of a Pathology lab in Kuntha Bopha Hospital.

The current situation of pathology in Cambodia is dominated by a shortage of human resources. Only 5 doctors, mostly with a short-term training in Pathology, are in charge of the service for over 14,000,000 inhabitants of Cambodia. Four hospital-owned and three private Pathology laboratories are located in the capital city, Phnom Penh. There are aproximately 10,000-20,000 histological specimens and 20,000 cytological specimens per year. These are investigated mostly with H&E and PAP stains. Only one laboratory provides a basic panel of immunohistochemistry. Such necessary molecular techniques as Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization, Flow Cytometry, Polymerase Chain Reaction are not available in Cambodian Pathology labs, again due to the lack of human resources and facilities.  No autopsies or frozen sections can be done in Cambodia at present.

In 2005, two Cambodian pathologists, Serey Vathana Chhut and Sam Ang Cheng, were invited to join the Thailand Division of International Academy of Pathology.

Dr. Vathana, Dr. Stauch, and Dr. Sam Ang

In February 2008, another doctor, Dr. Monirath Hav, was sent to Belgium for a 4-year training in Anatomic and Cytopathology and for a PhD in Medical Sciences under the promotion of Prof. Piet Pattyn and Prof. Claude Cuvelier and direct supervision from Prof. Louis Libbrecth. Dr. Hav has been trained within the framework of an interuniversity project “Creation of Reference Center for Gastro-Intestinal Tumours in Cambodia” between the University of Health Sciences Phnom Penh and the VLIR-UOS project of Belgian government. This project is coordinated by Professors Piet Pattyn, Karel Geboes and Claude Cuvelier. The local promoter of this project include Professor Yana Kheang and Dr. Dara Lem.

Prof. dr. Piet Pattyn,

Promoter of VLIR-IUC project,

Head of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Ghent University Hospital

Prof. dr. Claude Cuvlier,

President of the European Board of Pathology,

Training Director and Professor of Pathology, Ghent University

Prof. dr. Louis Libbrecht, Head Pathologist

Pathology Department, Ghent University Hospital

     Dr. Monirath Hav, Histo- & Cytopathologist

Since July 2011, Dr. Monirath Hav works as a Pathologist and Cytologist in Calmette Hospital, one of the leading public hospitals in Cambodia. The Anatomic Pathology and Cytopathology Laboratory of Calmette Hospital was established in 2007 with the technical support of Professor Michel Pluot and equipment donated from Pasteur Institute of Cambodia. The laboratory has one Pathologist, one Pathology assistant, three technicians and one secretary. 

In August 2009, Dr. Sophana Sam also left for France (Grenoble) for a two-year training in Cytopathology. This training is supported by the Cambodian-French cooperation under the coordination from Prof. Daniel Seigneurin and Dr. Meng Hong Panh.

Dr. Meng Hong Panh, retired Anatomopathologist in Grenoble

Dr. Sophana Sam, Cytopathologist

In June 2010, the Belgian interuniversity cooperation project sent Ms. Lyda Kea for a one-year training in Pathology Department of Ghent University Hospital. The training aims at equiping Ms. Lyda Kea with all technical laboratory skills ranging from basic routine staining techniques to advanced, molecular techniques (i.e. immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization). Moreover, Ms. Lyda has also been trained to become a cervical smear screener.

Ms. Lyda Kea, Pathology Assistant, Histo- & Cytotechnician

Upon their return, the newly trained Pathologist, Cytologist and Technician, in cooperation with other Cambodian and foreign Pathologists, are committed to working together to build up strong network of Anatomic and Cytopathology practice and training in Cambodia. They will make effort to introduce and strengthen Molecular Pathology in Cambodia. Last but not least, they will utilize their utmost competence and potential to make the upcoming National Cervical Cancer Screening Program a great success.

In summary, Pathology in Cambodia is seeing progress, particularly in the last several years. However, Cambodia is still in tremendous need for more Anatomic Pathologists, Cytopathologists, Molecular Biologists and laboratory technicians. The University of Health Sciences in Phnom Penh, the Cambodian-French Cooperation Project and Ghent University have been working closely to promote training in these specific areas and to attracting more students into this field. Scholarship and internship opportunities are available for interested students who are qualified for the trainings.