Cambodia's Cancer and Research Center: is it just a dream?

According to the Health Stratergic Plan 2008-2015 of the Ministry of Health, the stardard of care improvement of non-communicable diseases like cancer has been and will be one of the top priorities for Cambodian government.

Cancer treatment in Cambodia has advanced remarkably since the opening of Marie Curie Oncology Center in  Preah Bat Norodom Sihanouk Hospital, formerly known as Cambodian-Russian Friendship Hospital.  Dr. Eav Sokha, Head of Department, claimed that his department has a good database management system for collecting cancer database of all patients admitted to his department for cancer treatment and care with proper follow up. Dr. Eav Sokha explained, however, that this database does not cover all cancer incidence in the whole Cambodia due to the outflow of many cancer patients to other asian countries.  He added that Cambodia needs its own ‘National Cancer Institute’ for the three main objectives. First, with its standard quality of treatment and care, this NCI will be the referral center for all cancer cases in Cambodia. This will make possible the second objective which is nationwide cancer registry and epidemiology study, as well as its own research studies.  Last but not least, NCI will contribute to producing more experts in cancer-related fields by becoming a major cancer training center.  This will in return expand Cambodian cancer network through the distribution of young generation specialists in various cancer peripheral centers in some major provinces in Cambodia.

”That sounds like a great thing to think about, ” claimed some Cambodian and foreign colleagues, but ”Is it just a dream?” they questioned Dr.  Sokha and themselves.

The answer is NO! This is not a dream but a dream becoming true!

Supported by the Cambodian government and a very powerful and smart leader, working together with his core team consisting of brilliant and committed national and international experts in the field, it goes without saying that this great project will see its future very soon.

To be continued...

Reporter: Dr. Monirath HAV