Nederlands
HealthNet TPO in Cambodia
As a Dutch knowledge driven NGO, HealthNet TPO works on the sustainable (re)construction of health care in areas disrupted by war or disaster. Altough Cambodia is now an emerging area, there is still a need for more accessible quality health care.
HealthNet TPO is working on new methods to improve quality of health care and reduce costs for patients since many years now. In 1995, HealthNet TPO started a programme to provide psychosocial support and mental health care to the 1.5 million displaced persons and refugees in Cambodia. Since 1999 HealthNet TPO is working with ‘health contracts’ to make health care more accessibly and affordable. This innovative model introduces result dependent care contracts as well as contributions from care users. The contract model is now being implemented nationwide by the Cambodian Ministry of Health Care. HealthNet TPO implements contract projects in the provinces of Prey Veng, Mondulkiri and Rattanakiri. The contract model is further developed and now serves as a base for a community based health insurance scheme.
Cambodia
Area: 181.035 km²
Population: 14.494.293
Neighboring states: Laos, Thailand, Vietnam
Capital: Phnom-Penh
Government: Parliamentary Monarchy (kingdom)
Religion: Buddhism
Background
Cambodia has suffered of genocide and civil war for decades. During the Khmer Rouge regime (1975-1979) between 1.5 million and 2.5 million people ‘disappeared’ under the eye of Pol Pot. In order to convict the leaders of this ‘regime of terror’ the Cambodian Tribunal has been set up. In 2010 the first conviction occurred. On July 26, Kaing Guek Eav, a.k.a. ‘Duch’ (chief of the notorious torture prison Tuol Sleng) has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Although the first democratic elections were held in 1993, it is only since 1999 that the country has enjoyed a degree of political stability and the complex process of political, economic and social rebuilding has started. Despite the political and economic improvements the health status of the Cambodian population is still among the poorest in the world. Health reforms, with respect to the basic elements of a potentially effective public health system, are partially in place in Cambodia, but there is still a mismatch between the needs of the population and the ability of the health services to meet them.
