KOICA Selects SCHM as Project Management Consultant
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the grant aid agency of the South Korean government, has appointed Soonchunhyang University Medical Center (SCHM) as the Project Management Consultant (PMC) for a major healthcare improvement initiative in Phnom Penh’s Dangkor district. This project aims to enhance healthcare services by upgrading Dangkor Referral Hospital to a CPA2-level facility, making it the first of its kind in the capital. The hospital will serve as a key hub for emergency medical services and a ‘Gatekeeper’ to regulate patient flow in Dangkor district and its surrounding areas.
Upgrading Dangkor Referral Hospital to CPA2 Standard
Under the Cambodian Ministry of Health’s CPA2 classification, Dangkor Referral Hospital will receive advanced medical personnel, state-of-the-art equipment, and expanded healthcare services. The CPA2 standard is designed to improve hospital efficiency, ensuring the rapid assessment and treatment of emergency cases. This upgrade will help alleviate the patient burden on national hospitals and significantly improve emergency medical response for the local community.
Official Project Launch Ceremony Held in Phnom Penh
On March 3, KOICA, SCHM, and Phnom Penh Capital Administration (PPCA) held an official commencement ceremony for the “Project for Improvement of Public Health Services in Dangkor District Referral Hospital, Phnom Penh, Cambodia” at Phnom Penh City Hall. The event was attended by SHIN Jung Yeon, Deputy Director of KOICA Cambodia Office, along with Phnom Penh Deputy Governors Seng Vannak and Imran Hassan, as well as other local officials. During the event, stakeholders discussed the project’s implementation strategies and objectives.
Key Features of the Upgraded Hospital
The revamped Dangkor Referral Hospital will include essential healthcare facilities such as:
- A fully equipped emergency room
- Two state-of-the-art operating theaters
- A specialized maternity ward
- Integrated services across internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and dentistry
The hospital will prioritize two critical healthcare areas:
- Emergency Trauma Care – Enhancing the hospital’s ability to manage urgent medical cases efficiently.
- Maternal Health & Emergency Obstetrics – Improving care for expectant mothers and reducing childbirth-related complications.
Strengthening Emergency Medical Services
To further bolster emergency care capabilities, KOICA is investing in:
- Infrastructure Upgrades – Modernizing hospital facilities to meet CPA2 standards.
- Medical Staff Training – Enhancing expertise in critical specialties through specialized training programs.
- Efficient Patient Transfer System – Establishing a streamlined patient referral and transfer mechanism to ensure timely treatment.
These initiatives aim to position Dangkor Referral Hospital as a ‘Patient-Friendly, Safe, and Trusted Hospital,’ expanding access to high-quality healthcare services, particularly for underserved populations.
Commitment to Sustainable Healthcare Development
Shin Jung Yeon, Deputy Director of KOICA Cambodia Office, emphasized the collaboration between KOICA, SCHM, and PPCA, acknowledging SCHM’s proven expertise in managing hospital capacity-building projects in Cambodia. This initiative is expected to serve as a model for future referral hospital developments in Phnom Penh.
Since February, SCHM has been actively engaged in the preparatory phase of the project, conducting medical planning, visiting partner institutions, and performing baseline surveys to establish an effective performance management framework. In March, SCHM teams visited local hospitals to collect patient data, coordinate training programs, and tour key medical facilities, marking the official start of project activities.
Strengthening Korea-Cambodia Healthcare Ties
Kim Yong-hyun, Team Leader of SCHM’s International Project Corps, expressed confidence in the project’s success, stating: “Our team is dedicated to applying our extensive experience from long-term collaborations with Cambodia to ensure this project’s success. We aim to reinforce the trust and partnership between Korea and Cambodia while improving the health and well-being of the local community.”
A Promising Future for Healthcare in Phnom Penh
The partnership between KOICA, SCHM, and PPCA is set to bring transformative improvements to emergency healthcare services in Phnom Penh. By expanding access to quality medical care, particularly for vulnerable communities, this initiative will play a pivotal role in strengthening Cambodia’s healthcare system and setting new benchmarks for hospital development in the region.
