City project

Palliative Care

Strengthening and Expanding Palliative Care Services for Cancer Patients in Phnom Penh

City

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Project lead

Meng Lang

Areas of action

Implementation

Cycle I

The challenge

Gaps in palliative care services affect access for cancer patients in both hospital and community settings.
Most cancer cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, increasing the need for timely and comprehensive palliative care.
Access to effective pain management is constrained by regulatory barriers, limited availability of essential opioids, and reluctance to prescribe them.
There is a shortage of healthcare professionals with specialised training in palliative care, and no formal in-country training programme is currently available.
Palliative care services are fragmented, with limited integration into multidisciplinary cancer care and inconsistent participation in tumour board discussions.
Cultural factors, stigma, and limited awareness further hinder the delivery and uptake of palliative care services.

The goal

To strengthen and expand access to high-quality palliative care services for cancer patients.

The How

Reviewing the current organisation and delivery of palliative care services across public and private institutions.
Developing a strategic palliative care development plan to address current and future service needs.
Strengthening coordination of palliative care services across hospital and community settings.
Identifying gaps in infrastructure, workflows, medicines, equipment, consumables, and human resources.
Aligning palliative care service development with national priorities outlined in Cambodia’s National Cancer Control Plan and emerging national guidelines.

Outputs

Palliative care development plan with short-, medium- and long-term goals.

Team

Project Lead

Meng Lang, Palliative Care Specialist, Calmette Hospital.

Project Team

Meng Lang, Palliative Care Specialist, Calmette Hospital
Prak Kanika, Medical Coordinator, Douleurs Sans Frontières
Chin Roza, Onco-hematologist, Deputy Head of the Oncology Department, Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital
Neang Sereyvorleak, Pediatrician, National Pediatric Hospital
Ear Puthiny, Medical Doctor, National Pediatric Hospital
Hy Sokneang, Nurse, Oncology Department, Kantha Bopha Hospital
Hok Tineang, Head Nurse, Calmette Hospital
Sun Kanika, Head Nurse, Calmette Hospital
Lath Sophin, Head Nurse of Oncology Department, Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital
Kang Sunarin, Medical Oncologist, Head of Oncology and Radiotherapy Department, Luang Mé Hospital
La Meng Lay, Head Nurse, Luang Mé Hospital
Sun Mey, Nurse, Japan Heart Asia Children's Medical Center
Sron Vuthy, Nurse, Japan Heart Asia Children's Medical Center
Mang Kimloth, Nurse, Calmette Hospital
Huy Chivy, Head nurse, Oncology Department, Kantha Bopha Hospital
Chhor Vorn Mon, Medical Advisor, Douleurs Sans Frontières
Claire Robaye, Country Director of Douleurs Sans Frontières