Health Reforms

So is Cambodia's health system still shattered after nearly three decades of war? Is corruption rife? Do tiny salaries paid to doctors and nurses mean rebuilding the system is an uphill battle?

Elsewhere in today's media coverage is an interesting admission from one international body entrusted with helping Cambodia move forward with health reforms.

"A lot has been done, but on paper we don't seem to have made much progress," UNICEF's country representative Rodney Hatfield concedes.

This same article also goes some way towards explaining why Dr Beat Richner clashes with authorities.

Richner's stance on free treatment, however, has earned him criticism from multilateral organisations and donors who prefer to see a user-pays system in place and who he says have accused him of subverting attempts to strengthen the system.

"This is absolutely stupid to do this liberal, capitalist idea for the health sector if people have no cash ... Our idea is that all children have the right to be treated. It's only subversion of corruption," he [Dr Richner] retorts.

According to the report, well-heeled tourists responded to Dr Richner's call in the past year to give $2.2 million dollars and on average, about 300 blood donations per (aproximately 30 percent of the campaign's requirements).

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