City project

Systematic Treatment

Strengthening Systemic Cancer Treatment Services in Phnom Penh

City

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Project lead

Ratha Mlis

Areas of action

Implementation

Cycle I

The challenge

Childhood cancer outcomes in Cambodia remain poor due to delayed diagnosis, fragmented care pathways, and limited access to specialised services.

Access to systemic cancer treatment is limited by high costs, infrastructure gaps, and shortages of specialised professionals.
Systemic therapies are concentrated in urban centres, with significant access barriers for patients outside Phnom Penh.
Chemotherapy remains the most commonly available treatment, while targeted therapies and immunotherapies are largely inaccessible due to cost and limited diagnostic capacity.
Most patients pay out of pocket for treatment, leading to delayed care, treatment discontinuation, or the use of suboptimal options.
Many facilities lack adequate infrastructure, workflows, and protocols for the safe handling, administration, and disposal of oncology medicines.
Workforce shortages among oncologists, pharmacists, and nurses constrain treatment capacity and increase safety risks.
Limited bone marrow transplantation services limit care for patients with haematological malignancies.

The goal

To improve access to high-quality systemic treatment services and build the capacity of cancer care providers to safely and effectively deliver systemic therapies.

The How

Developing a city-wide strategic plan to strengthen systemic treatment services across adult medical oncology and haemato-oncology.
Improving coordination, infrastructure, workflows, and availability of essential equipment and medicines across public and private institutions.
Supporting capacity building for oncologists, hospital pharmacists, and nurses in adult and paediatric oncology.
Developing recommendations to update Cambodia’s National Essential Medicines List to reflect current and future systemic therapy needs.
Aligning systemic treatment strengthening efforts with national priorities outlined in the National Cancer Control Plan.

Outputs

Strategic plan to enhance the delivery of quality systemic cancer treatment services across city institutions.
Recommendations to update the National Essential Medicines List (NEML) to ensure greater access to essential oncology medicines in Cambodia.
Training programmes for oncologists, hospital pharmacists, and nurses on the safe handling and administration of oncology medicines in adult and paediatric clinical settings.

Team

Project Lead

Ratha Mlis, Pediatric Oncologist, Calmette Hospital.

Project Team

Ratha Mlis, Paediatric Oncologist, Deputy Head of National Cancer Center, Calmette Hospital
Heng Viroath, Medical Oncologist, Head of Oncology Department , Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital
Cheap Thonvuthy, Chief of National Essential Medicine List Unit, Department of Drugs and Food, Ministry of Health
Chin Roza, Onco-hematologist,Deputy Head of the Oncology Department Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital
Ung Nearot, Medical Oncologist, Calmette Hospital
Hoy Chhunly, Medical Oncologist, Luang Mé Hospital
Sovath Sovannara, Paediatric Oncologist, Head of Oncology Department, Kantha Bopha Hospital
Rom Bunchhou, Head Nurse Assistant, Calmette Hospital
Hor Bispan, Medical Doctor, Japan Hearth Asia Children's Medical Center
Phauk Chinith, Paediatric Oncologist, Head of oncology Department, National Paediatric Hospital
Theam Thavy, Head of Pharmacy, National Paediatric Hospital
Kang Sunnorin, Medical Oncologist, Head of Oncology and Radiotherapy Department, Luang Mé Hospital
Hou Kongkea, Head of Nurse, Oncology Department, National Paediatric Hospital
Ry Channa, Nurse, Supervisor of Day Chemotherapy Calmette Hospital
Choeun Sopheaktra, Pharmacist, Chemo-preparation, Calmette Hospital
Chun Doungchai, Head Nurse, Chakra Cancer Clinic
Te Venglim, Chemo-preparation nurse, Calmette Hospital
Horn Sineng , Pharmacist, Kantha Bopha Hospital
Huy Chivy, Head nurse, Oncology Department, Kantha Bopha Hospital
Lim Sengleang, Pharmacist, Calmette Hospital

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