Fondation Kantha Bopha – Dr med. Beat Richner


Switzerland has supported the Kanta Bopha Hospitals since 1995. Today they have become of systemic importance in the Cambodian health system, and provide comprehensive pediatric services to 8 out of 10 severely sick children in Cambodia. In this last phase, Switzerland will support the Hospitals setting up a system to sustainably access health care reimbursements through social health insurance. In parallel the core financial contribution is phased out.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Cambodia
Governance
Health
nothemedefined
Public sector policy
Health systems strengthening
Medical services
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2027
CHF  18’150’000
Background The Royal Government of Cambodia is committed to achieving universal health coverage by 2030 as indicated in the Sustainable Development Goal 3. The health insurance system is expected to finance the health care of 60% of insured Cambodian citizens by 2030. The recent COVID pandemic was a setback in the implementation of the reforms.
Objectives The goal of the KBH is to contribute to the improvement of child and maternal health through the equitable provision of highly specialized pediatric and obstetric care and to support actively the building of a resilient health system in Cambodia. 
Target groups

-    Children (<15 years) and expecting mothers in Cambodia

-    Accompanying caregivers of patients

-    Cambodian health personnel

Medium-term outcomes

KBH specific objective:

Objective 1:    To contribute to the reduction of maternal, newborn and under 5 mortality rates.

KBH and SDC specific objectives:

Objective 2:    To leverage effectively reimbursements available through social health insurances.

Objective 3:    To build KBH capacities to contribute effectively to sector reforms: KBH has capacity to provide effectively data and expertise to support sector reforms.

SDC specific objective:

Objective 4:    To gradually phase out SDC core financial contribution by end of 2027 while communicating the success of the project with the KBH partners.

Results

Expected results:  

-    Feasibility study on access to reimbursements by social protection schemes.

-    Dialogue with the relevant Cambodian authorities, including Ministry of Health for the sustainable financing of KBH by RGC and CKF.

-    Feasibility study for a KBH system to cost services.

-    Inputs with evidence-based analysis and studies in health sector reforms. 


Results from previous phases:  

Over the duration of the last phase 2019-2022, neonatal mortality has declined by 70% from 27 deaths per 1,000 live births to 8 deaths (2021) per 1,000 live births; the infant mortality rate has declined by 73% from 45 deaths per 1,000 live births to 12 deaths (2021) per 1,000 live births; and the under-five mortality rate has declined by 70% from 54 deaths (2021) per 1,000 live births to 16 deaths per 1,000 live births.

The Cambodian foundation raised funds from the Cambodian entities, government, institutions, private sector and individuals representing in 2019 more than 50% (2021 target: 48%) of the financing required for the KBH. SDCs co-financing represents around 8-10% of the KBH's annual budget.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
Private sector
Swiss Non-profit Organisation
  • Kantha Bopha Foundation
  • Foreign private sector South/East
  • Swiss Private Sector


Other partners
Kantha Bopha Foundation – Dr med. Beat Richner (Zurich) 
Coordination with other projects and actors

-    KBH

-    RGC’s ministries of Health, of Economy and Finance, and of Tourism

-    Cambodian Foundation

-    Children’s Hospital Zürich

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    18’150’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    7’511’543
Project phases Phase 10 01.01.2023 - 31.12.2027   (Current phase) Phase 9 01.01.2019 - 31.03.2023   (Completed) Phase 8 01.09.2016 - 31.07.2019   (Completed) Phase 7 01.05.2013 - 31.12.2016   (Completed) Phase 6 01.01.2010 - 31.12.2012   (Completed)