It’s not always sunshine, rainbows, ancient temples, and yummy noodles while traversing the Kingdom of Wonder. As it is with life, sometimes the chain on your bike breaks, and you need a mechanic, sometimes you lose things, and need a policeman, sometimes you’ll break, and need a doctor!
Recently, so it would happen, I broke and needed a doctor! Long story, short, after some diagnosis, it turned out I had a rather large kidney stone lodged in my ureter (the tube from the kidney to the bladder) which was causing a blockage and swelling of the kidney. Not something you want for an extended period of time, so, it had to come out.
The diagnosis was performed correctly at Neak Tep Hospital in Siem Reap who also arranged the Urologist (Dr. Bunsy) for further consultation and arranged for the operation that would follow. It was in for 2 days to remove the stone by Laser Ureteroscopy and everything was handled absolutely professionally. The French-trained Urologist and the Anetheist both spoke fluent English as did several of the nurses and staff making things a lot easier.
It’s actually an operation that I have had several years earlier in Australia, and one that has several pain points which they handled quite well, and to be honest I rate the services here locally right up there with that in Australia. But, I did know what to expect and know the process from that past experience, I think if it was the first time, I probably would have felt differently and needed more coaching on what was going on especially through the pain points post-op. I am very grateful for their efforts. That now done it’s just one more follow-up task and some recovery time for me.
So, what to do if you get sick in Siem Reap and need a doctor?
Historically, Cambodia isn’t renowned for its health services but I can tell you confidently, it is most certainly getting better and better, surprisingly so.
The system in Siem Reap consists of private local clinics, specialists, private labs, private hospitals, and government hospitals. For foreigners, at several private hospitals and clinics, it is quite easy to find English-speaking staff and doctors. For locals, costs at public hospitals are partly subsidised and foreigners of course, just like any country, need to pay the full rate.
Hospitals in Siem Reap
The provincial hospital is the largest, offers the most services, and is the cheapest. Can be a bit chaotic for some, and looks a bit run down, if so, try the smaller or larger private hospitals.
- Siem Reap Provincial Referral Hospital – large public hospital – the main hospital in northern Cambodia – https://goo.gl/maps/ELtWnzoAAVSgg6v36
- Neak Tep Hospital – Smaller private hospital – https://web.facebook.com/neaktephospital
- Angkor Sante Hospital – Smaller private hospital – https://web.facebook.com/angkorsantepolyclinic
- Angkor Japan Freindship Hospital – medium size private – https://web.facebook.com/ajfih
- Royal Angkor International Hospital – Larger private hospital, most modern, and by far the most expensive – https://web.facebook.com/royalangkorinternationalhospital
- Ken Bopha – Jayavarman VII Children’s Hospital – https://goo.gl/maps/6P7xX1Atq4b3zE2W6
GP Clinics and Nurses
- Dr Kong Rathy Clinic – https://goo.gl/maps/mWKKmpp2561n86R57
- Grand Mekong Clinic – https://goo.gl/maps/vfSQ3PdwG8z1Ddz78
- Khemarak Angkor Polyclinic II – https://goo.gl/maps/ZbDZAgYxqdMDZg7y7
- HK Medicare Angkor Polyclinic – https://web.facebook.com/hk.medicare.7
- Marie Stopes Womens Health Clinic – https://web.facebook.com/MSICSiemReap
- Dr Ngeth Pises – Cardiologist – affiliated with Neak Tep
- Nursing Consultancy Cambodia https://web.facebook.com/WeCare.NCC/
Blood Labs
- BioMed Siem Reap – https://goo.gl/maps/tke9jCorVGMMjTCL7
- Prasat Keo Laboratory (beside Prasat Keo Pharmacy) – https://goo.gl/maps/eaUyS7bpEPPL5BLRA
Ambulance services in Siem Reap
- Neak Tep – https://web.facebook.com/neaktephospital
Pharmacies
There are so many, but I will list three popular and trusted choices. Most medicines are extremely cheap due to being generics made in Asia, you can find French brands and some western brands if you like to pay a little more
- Preah Vihear Pharmacy – here https://goo.gl/maps/xFXYD1M76kS5Qw6Y8 and here https://goo.gl/maps/Qrnbhyjweo4ecyYH9
- Angkor Thom Pharmacy – https://goo.gl/maps/afYTGRsox3QsYn4c7
- U Care – here https://goo.gl/maps/NnnPYNM5xmLBMQns8 and here https://goo.gl/maps/6L9mHvFp1Bwms1qC9
Some general cost examples of healthcare in Siem Reap
- A visit to a GP at a small local clinic starts at $5, while at one of the private hospitals that can range from $10-20.
- If you need a specialist consultation, $30 and up.
- A basic blood panel at a lab can range from $15-30
- Chest X-Ray $10
- Ultrasound $10
- CT scan $200-300
- Overnight stay in a smaller hospital from $20 + nursing add another $15, that figure can rise exponentially with some reports of $300+ per night at larger private hospitals.
- Surgery – routine operations can start in the hundreds while anything above an hour, a rough figure is $800 in a smaller hospital and upwards from there