By By Japan Heart | Project Leader
Progress Report on Eradicating Pediatric Cancer in Cambodia (Feb – Apr 2025)
Date: May 2025
Location: Cambodia
Overview
In this report, we will introduce our activities in Cambodia from February to April 2025, as well as an overview of Cambodia’s health insurance system.
Key Updates and Achievement
1. "Yoshioka Mission" and a case of pediatric cancer patient
From March 14- 16 and again from March 22- 25, 2025, Dr. Hideto Yoshioka traveled to Cambodia to conduct a series of intensive surgeries. Over these two missions, a total of 44 surgeries, including 4 pediatric cancer cases, were successfully performed. These short-term, high-impact surgical missions are known as the "Yoshioka Mission," during which Dr. Yoshioka, our Senior Advisor, visits Cambodia once a month to lead focused surgical efforts and support local medical care. During the mission, one little girl underwent a three-and-a-half-hour surgery, which was successfully completed, and her treatment will continue in the coming months.
2. Cambodia’s Health Insurance System and Its Challenges
To understand Cambodia’s health insurance system, it is essential to first understand its history.
In 1976, the Khmer Rouge regime led by Pol Pot came to power, and the civil war that lasted into the 1990s had a devastating impact. Many intellectuals were killed, and the foundations of hospitals and medical education were destroyed. Medical textbooks were burned, and the effects of this destruction still linger today, with a severe shortage of doctors continuing to plague the country. Many children dream of becoming doctors in the future. However, due to an underdeveloped education system and the high cost of tuition, they are forced to give up on that dream.
Cambodia has two public health insurance systems: the National Social Security Fund and the Health Equity Fund. However, many people living in poverty are not enrolled in either. In such cases, they must pay the full cost of medical treatment out of pocket. As a result, there is no end to the number of people who cannot afford the high cost of care and are unable to receive the medical treatment they need.
Upcoming Goals
The Objective of "the Japan Heart Children's Medical Center"
Since 2009, Japan Heart has been providing mobile medical services in Cambodia, bringing healthcare to those in underserved areas. In 2016, it established its current facility, the Japan Heart Children's Medical Center, which continues to operate today. As one of the few charitable hospitals in the country offering free treatment for pediatric cancer, the center plays a truly unique and vital role. The organization’s work has gained widespread support across Cambodia.
Empowering Local Medical Professionals: A Vision for the Future
Japan Heart is not only dedicated to providing medical care, but also places a strong emphasis on training local healthcare professionals.
Cambodian doctors and nurses work alongside their Japanese counterparts, with the goal of enabling the local staff to eventually operate the medical facilities independently in the future.
Opening second self-operated hospital, “The Japan Heart Asia Pediatric Medical Center” in October near Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia
The Japan Heart Asia Pediatric Medical Center is a 200-bed comprehensive children’s hospital set to open in October 2025, near Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. It will be Japan Heart’s second self-operated hospital.
Guided by the philosophy of “Equal access to healthcare for all children,” the center aims to become a new hub for advanced medical care in Asia, with a bold mission to eliminate the survival gap between developing and developed countries.
The hospital will focus particularly on providing free treatment for pediatric cancer, a field where survival rates vary greatly due to the high cost and complexity of care - often beyond the reach of international medical support. The hospital located in Takhmao City, near the site of Cambodia’s new international airport scheduled to open in 2026, the new hospital will significantly improve both capacity and accessibility compared to the existing Japan Heart Children’s Medical Center since 2016.
Acknowledgement
Towards the Future with the New Hospital- Our gratitude for your support
This month, many patients at the Japan Heart Children’s Medical Center were able to undergo surgery, and this would not have been possible without your generous support. We are truly grateful for your continued kindness.
Currently, preparations for the opening of our new hospital are progressing smoothly. With the establishment of this new facility, we will be able to provide high-quality healthcare to even more patients. We remain fully committed to safeguarding the future of as many patients as possible and will continue to do our best in all our efforts.
Thank you once again for your unwavering support. We look forward to your continued partnership.
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