Medical Office
free services for the most vulnerable

Medical staff regularly visits poorer communities and provide free treatmentVictims and witnesses of human rights abuses who come to LICADHO have often been injured, or are sick and weak. The care provided by the Medical Office is an essential part of the services LICADHO offers to victims, providing direct treatment, interventions with the public health system, and support for the legal process.

Victims are often too poor to pay for adequate medical care from government or private facilities. Although the government hospitals are in principle free for all Cambodian citizens, in reality they can be quite costly, as poorly paid medical staff in government-funded healthcare clinics demand bribes before providing care. Even with the payment of bribes, patients are commonly neglected in Cambodia's overwhelmed hospitals.

LICADHO's Actions

Provinding free medical care to victims

In response to these needs, the LICADHO Medical Office provides free examinations and treatment for victims of rights abuses. Additional services, such as lab tests or referral to specialists, are provided as necessary. For victims in government hospitals, the Medical Office provides invaluable advocacy and follow-up services to ensure the best possible treatment. Doctors from the LICADHO Medical Office advocate on behalf of victims for reduced fees or free services from hospitals.

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Medical certificates for court cases

Another aspect of the Medical Office's work is to assist victims to obtain official medical certificates for use in court cases. Pressing charges against a perpetrator in human rights cases can be very difficult, and medical evidence is often a crucial element in a successful prosecution. A certified examination letter from a government-appointed physician can cost from $20 up to $100 in serious cases - far beyond the means of most victims. As part of our support of victims through the legal process, the Medical Office staff accompany victims to government doctors and assists them in obtaining the required documentation for free or at a reduced cost.

Monitoring of public gathering

In cooperation with the Monitoring Office, LICADHO's Medical Office also monitors demonstrations and public gatherings in Phnom Penh. Medical care is often required for demonstrators and bystanders who are injured by law enforcement officials or others who commit violent acts against peaceful demonstrators. After the anti-Thai riots in 2003, the Medical Office provided direct medical care for 12 people, and treated 45 people during the post election demonstrations of 1998.

Prison Health Program

Overcrowding, malnutrition and poor sanitation in Cambodia's prisons cause many health problems among prisoners. With poor sanitation and as little as 0.7 square meters of space allowed for each prisoner, inmates face high rates of scabies, diarrhea, dysentery, tuberculosis and tapeworm. The meager government food ration of $0.25 per prisoner per day leads to a poor diet. Government health workers in prisons are poorly paid, have little motivation to treat prisoners and are not properly supplied with medicines. Sick prisoners often have to pay bribes in order to get medical attention, or they go without. In some cases, prisoners get no treatment until they are seriously ill and close to death - by which time it may be too late.


 Go to Photo AlbumIn this challenging context, the Medical Office works with LICADHO’s Prison Project and prison health officials, to treat prisoners and conduct health promotion activities in 18 of Cambodia's prisons. The Medical Office serves a prison population of around 1,700 inmates, conducting nearly 5,000 medical consultations each year. LICADHO doctors conduct examinations and prescribe treatment, leaving medicine with prison health workers to administer. Later, they conduct follow-up visits to check if the medicine was properly given and no bribes demanded. In the most serious cases, the Medical Office will petition the Prison Director to allow the prisoner to be admitted to the hospital. Prison guards – who are typically quite poor and share similar conditions to the prisoners - are also treated, which helps foster goodwill between LICADHO and prison officials.

In addition to the usual monthly schedule, the LICADHO medical staff makes special visits when necessary to provide follow-up for seriously ill prisoners or to give urgent treatment to injured prisoners such as torture victims. These cases are usually brought to the Medical Office's attention by the Prison Project staff (from LICADHO's Monitoring Office) who visit prisons more frequently.


Medical staff leads prison sanitation proceduresGiven that a large proportion of the diseases treated in prisons are easily avoided, the Medical Office also recognizes the importance of prevention. LICADHO has initiated an innovative sanitation program which aims to reduce disease through initial treatment, a cleaning regime and health education. The program involves: comprehensive treatment of all cases of scabies (an infectious skin disease); providing materials and instruction for prisoners to clean their cells and bedding; and education for prisoners and guards about sanitation and hygiene.