Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE

Free non-governmental hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE

HOPE worldwide
Geography
Location| Street 134, Sangkat Veal Vong, Khan 7 Makara, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Coordinates| 11°34′4.959″N 104°54′58.061″E﻿ / ﻿11.56804417°N 104.91612806°E﻿ / 11.56804417; 104.91612806
Organisation
Funding| Non-profit hospital
Type| General
Services
Emergency department| Yes
History
Opened| 1996
Links
Website| https://www.sihosp.org

Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE (SHCH) was established as as a free non-governmental hospital in 1996 by Bernard Krisher[1][2][3][4][5], an American philanthropist, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The hospital's mission was to help rebuild the country's medical infrastructure by treating patients and training medical personnel. In 2022, the hospital was seized by the Cambodian government in a "salvo" against Krisher, who founded The Cambodia Daily[6][7], a "fearless" independent newspaper that was shut-down in September 2017 amidst a government crackdown against the free and independent press, and now operates as a government hospital.[8][9] The hospital was named in honor of Cambodia's "King Father", Norodom Sihanouk.[10]

## History[edit]

An estimated 2 million people had died in the Cambodian genocide, and in 1979 only 49 doctors remained alive in the country.[11] In 1996, three international organizations, Japan Relief for Cambodia, World Mate , a Shinto organization, and HOPEworldwide[2], a Christian organization, formed a US non-profit organzation, the Sihanouk Hospital Corporation, to govern the hospital. [12] World Mate provided funding for the establishment and operations the hospital.[13] HOPEworldwide managed the hospital and volunteers such as internist Cameron Gifford and nurse Cathy Pingoy initially provided its staffing.[8][14]

By March 1997, when the country had no inpatient facilities for those with mental illness, the hospital had provided services to 2,000 such patients and had administered 13,000 consultations.[11]

Kenzo Tange, renowned Japanese architect, designed the hospital building pro bono.[15]Construction of a $300,000 annex to the hospital's main building began in January 2002 to expand its community AIDS program, and treatments of diabetes, dermatology, and hypertension. At the time, the hospital had instituted a lottery system as demand for its services outpaced the hospital's ability to provide care.[16]

In August, 2008, SHCH's emergency room was receiving 400 patients each day and operated as the only free hospital in the country.[17] In 2009, the hospital was serving 3,000 AIDS HIV-positive patients.[18]

Carol A. Rodley, the U.S. ambassador to Cambodia, said in 2009 that, "Not only is this one of the busiest adult hospitals in Cambodia, it is one of the best. The hardworking staff here provides the poor with health care of the highest standard at no charge".[18]

After 20 years in operation, SHCH had provided training courses to 5,000 healthcare professionals and treated 1.3 million patients. In 2016, its operating budget was $4.5 million dollars. Gary Jacques, the hospital's director from 2003–2007, noted that when he started, most key staff members were expatriates, but now Cambodians had been trained to fill those roles, and the number of women in directorial positions had grown.[14]

## Operations[edit]

According to its website, the hospital's mission is "To provide affordable, quality healthcare to those living in Cambodia in poverty, while training the nation's top clinicians to further serve the Cambodian population."[19] Payment for medical services is based on the patient's ability to pay, using a sliding scale.[20]

In 2017, an SHCH spokesperson told The Phnom Penh Post that over 60% of its patients were from rural areas, with more than two-thirds living on less than $5 per day.[20]

In November 2022, SHCH was administering training programs to over 500 health professionals annually, and was recognized by Cambodia's Ministry of Health (MoH) as a training and research institution. With over 200 Cambodians on staff, the hospital's laboratory, nursing, pharmacy, radiology, and surgical departments are the main training sites for Cambodia's university medical students.[19]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "​Cambodia Daily founder passes away​". www.phnompenhpost.com. Retrieved 2024-04-14. `{{cite web}}`: zero width space character in `|title=` at position 1 (help)
2. ^ a b "Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE (SHCH) | Devex". www.devex.com. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
3. ^ "Remembering Bernard Krisher, the American journalist who founded Cambodia's first English-language daily". The Independent. 2019-04-14. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
4. ^ "Bernard Krisher: An Appreciation". www.hopeww.org. 2019-05-02. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
5. ^ Mydans, Seth (2019-03-20). "Bernard Krisher, Free Press Champion in Cambodia, Dies at 87". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
6. ^ "Closure of Cambodia Daily signals an escalating crackdown on dissent". Civicus Monitor. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
7. ^ Tastevin, Matthew (September 4, 2017). "Cambodian paper shuts with 'dictatorship' parting shot".
8. ^ a b "Volunteers rebuild a system". The Boston Globe. 1997-07-21. pp. C1, C4. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
9. ^ Brook, Jack (2023-06-28). "Gov't Shutdown of Health Clinics Ends Cambodia Daily Founder's Humanitarian Projects | CamboJA News". cambojanews.com. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
10. ^ "Our Story". Sihanouk Hospital. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
11. ^ a b McDowell, Robin (March 2, 1997). "Chaining mentally ill common in Cambodia". Newspapers.com. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
12. ^ "SIHANOUK HOSPITAL CORPORATION - GuideStar Profile". www.guidestar.org. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
13. ^ "ワールドメイト カンボジア無料救急病院（シアヌーク病院）". www.worldmate-philanthropy.com. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
14. ^ a b Hawkins, Hannah (2016-11-08). "Sihanouk Hospital Center Celebrates 20 Years in Phnom Penh - The Cambodia Daily". english.cambodiadaily.com. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
15. ^ Günther, Ingo (2017-10-13). "Kambodscha auf dem Weg in die Diktatur? Zur Abwicklung der Zeitung "The Cambodia Daily" · BG · berlinergazette.de · EN|DE". BG · berlinergazette.de · EN|DE (in German). Retrieved 2024-04-14.
16. ^ Sambath, Thet (2002-01-08). "Sihanouk Center Hospital Breaks Ground for New Annex - The Cambodia Daily". english.cambodiadaily.com. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
17. ^ Yankova, Dessislava (August 24, 2008). "American-Cambodian collaboration brings hope". Newspapers.com. The News-Examiner (Gallatin, Tennessee). Retrieved 2022-11-06.
18. ^ a b "2009 Programs and Events | Embassy of the United States Phnom Penh, Cambodia". 2013-02-23. Archived from the original on 2013-02-23. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
19. ^ a b "Mission & Overview". Sihanouk Hospital. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
20. ^ a b "Hospital provides hope to patients". www.phnompenhpost.com. Retrieved 2022-11-06.

## External links[edit]

Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE website