Kantha Bopha H. Stay Open, Treat 3,000 Children During Festival

While much of Cambodia paused for the Water Festival holiday, Kantha Bopha Hospitals in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap remained open—quietly performing a vital public service. More than 3,000 children received medical care on the first day of the three-day celebration, underscoring the hospitals’ unwavering commitment to free paediatric and maternal healthcare.

According to hospital officials, 2,735 children were treated as outpatients, while 563 were admitted for serious conditions. In addition to these new cases, over 3,000 inpatients—pregnant women, newborns, and children—continued to receive care across the two facilities.

Founded on the principle that no child should be denied treatment, Kantha Bopha Hospitals operate year-round, free of charge. Their decision to remain open during one of Cambodia’s most important national holidays reflects a deep-rooted ethos: healthcare does not take a day off.

The Kantha Bopha story is one of quiet heroism. Established in the 1990s by Swiss paediatrician Dr Beat Richner, the hospitals were named after a Cambodian princess and built to address the country’s dire need for child healthcare following decades of conflict. Today, they treat over half a million children annually, without billing a single family.

Funded largely by donations, the hospitals have become a cornerstone of Cambodia’s public health system. Their model—high-quality care, no fees, no corruption—has earned international praise and deep local trust.

As the Water Festival draws crowds to riversides and temples, Kantha Bopha’s doctors and nurses remain at their posts, quietly saving lives. Their work is a reminder that compassion, like the Mekong’s flow, does not stop for celebration.

-2025-11-06