🇰🇭 Cambodia Healthcare Guide
Private hospitals in Phnom Penh are generally well-equipped for visitors, but care outside the capital varies significantly — Siem Reap has a few tourist-oriented clinics, while rural provinces have very little. Most providers expect cash payment upfront, so carrying a record of your medical history and current medications saved and accessible offline helps clinicians who have no access to your home records and limited time for a detailed intake.
Quick facts
- Emergency number: 119
- Healthcare system: mixed
- Average GP visit: $20 USD
- EHIC/GHIC accepted: No
- Language barrier: high
Healthcare overview
Phnom Penh’s private hospitals have improved significantly, with Royal Phnom Penh Hospital and Sunrise Japan Hospital offering care that keeps many patients who previously flew to Bangkok. Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) has tourist-oriented clinics for minor issues, but serious cases still transfer to Phnom Penh or Bangkok. Rural Cambodia has basic health centres with limited capabilities. GP visits at private clinics cost $20–50.
Siem Reap clinic limitations
Siem Reap’s clinics handle minor tourist injuries and illness. Anything requiring hospitalisation means transfer to Phnom Penh (6 hours by road) or Bangkok.
Bangkok as backup
Bangkok’s Bumrungrad Hospital is the traditional evacuation destination from Cambodia, about 1 hour by air from Phnom Penh.
Vaccinations
Recommended
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
- Malaria prophylaxis
- Japanese Encephalitis
- Rabies
Prescriptions and pharmacies
Pharmacies in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap sell most medications over the counter at low prices, but quality control is a concern: counterfeit and substandard products circulate. Stick to pharmacies attached to reputable hospitals or international chains. Having your medication list with generic names helps pharmacists identify legitimate products.
Counterfeit medication risk
Buy from hospital-attached pharmacies or established chains in Phnom Penh. Street pharmacies may stock counterfeit or expired products.
Tips for travellers
Royal Phnom Penh Hospital and Sunrise Japan Hospital cover most specialist needs, with Sunrise Japan’s cardiology department particularly strong for the region. For conditions beyond local capacity, Bangkok (Bumrungrad, Bangkok Hospital) remains the standard referral destination. Having your treatment history accessible in English helps both Phnom Penh and Bangkok specialists continue your care seamlessly.
Sunrise Japan Hospital
Sunrise Japan Hospital in Phnom Penh has Japanese management and growing specialist departments, reducing the need for Bangkok evacuation.