The Finance Ministry on Wednesday announced that an additional $2 million from the 2015 national budget would go toward the five Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospitals in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap City, which have provided free medical services to millions of Cambodians for more than two decades.
During a ceremony at Kantha Bopha IV in Phnom Penh, Finance Minister Aun Porn Moniroth clarified that the $2 million was in addition to the $3.2 million already promised to the independent hospitals from the government’s health budget.
He said the facilities would see an even larger share of the state coffers next year.
“The good news does not yet end,” he said. “Next year, the contribution will be $6 million.”
In a statement last month, Beat Richner, the hospitals’ Swiss founder and director, said all five hospitals would run up operating costs of about $43.5 million this year.
“I’m very touched by this, excellency,” Mr. Richner told Mr. Porn Moniroth yesterday. “This is even a good message to the donators in Switzerland.”
