Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Garment factory clinic pilot inadequate say workers, experts

Garment factory clinic pilot inadequate say workers, experts

Workers stand in queue to get medical checkups under a pilot programme by the Ministry of Health last month in Takeo province.
Workers stand in queue to get medical checkups under a pilot programme by the Ministry of Health last month in Takeo province. Facebook

Garment factory clinic pilot inadequate say workers, experts

Free medical checkups offered to garment workers as part of a Ministry of Health pilot project are superficial and inadequate, workers and labour rights observers said yesterday.

The 40-day health programme was announced at the end of September, and coincided with Prime Minister Hun Sen’s charm offensive to woo garment workers around the capital. At the time, Svay Rieng Provincial Health Department Director Dr Keo Rotha said the clinics would offer glucose tests, blood pressure tests, X-rays and blood tests in case of fainting. But accounts from workers in other provinces suggested the services fell far below expectations.

Seak Hong, 34, a garment worker at Horizon Outdoor (Cambodia) Co Ltd in Kampong Chhnang, said she received a medical checkup at her factory last month, but found it to be useless.

“They didn’t do a blood test,” she said. “They only asked us to [get on the] scale, and measured out height . . . For every kind of illness, they only provided paracetamol and vitamins. I don’t feel like I received . . . good treatment.”

Khath Srey Touch, a garment worker at Pou Yuen (Cambodia) Enterprise Ltd in Phnom Penh who suffers from stomach pain, said doctors took her measurements but did not offer a blood test.

Prak Vun, director of the Kampong Chhnang Health Department, said he wasn’t sure if the ministry has plans to offer the services permanently. At the clinic, he said, workers were receiving a “general” medical checkup.

Multiple attempts to reach Health Minister Mam Bun Heng and ministry spokespeople were unsuccessful.

The pilot programmes have either already ended or will end soon, depending on the province, but it is unclear if the programme will be revived.

Dr Chap Modich, a doctor at private hospital Mercy Medical Center, said what the workers described seemed inadequate for a complete medical checkup.

“They [the doctors] have to go a little bit deeper,” he said, adding that workers should have also been asked about their medical history. Modich also said a medical checkup consists of a complete blood-count test. For pregnant women, doctors should screen for diabetes, high-blood pressure, folic acid levels and iron, he added.

Ath Thorn, president of the Cambodian Labour Confederation, said while these services had the potential to be good for workers, they may also just be an effort to gain political support ahead of next year’s election, as well as an effort to divert workers’ attention from the state’s troubled hospitals.

MOST VIEWED

  • Tensions high ahead of historic Kun Khmer match up

    The long-awaited November 5 matchup between Kun Khmer legend Prum Samnang and Myanmar-Canadian boxer Dave Leduc has become the most anticipated fight of the year. The Wurkz Sena Kun Khmer promotion, which will be held at the Town Arena at Chip Mong 271 Megamall, will see six

  • Manet: Cambodia safe for travel

    Prime Minister Hun Manet acknowledged that Cambodia and China have cooperated to tackle internet scamming, fraud and other cross border crimes, but insisted that the “Kingdom of Wonders” is completely peaceful and safe. He welcomed tourists to come and explore its rich heritage. During a

  • UNESCO formally list Battambang gastronomy

    Battambang, renowned for its cultural heritage, has achieved a significant milestone as the first Cambodian municipality to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The UCCN unites nearly 300 cities prioritising creativity and cultural industries in local development plans and international cooperation. On World Cities Day,

  • Cambodia pivots to solar, wind energy

    Cambodia is planning a move towards solar and wind energy to meet its rising power demands, according to Minister of Mines and Energy Keo Rottanak. On the sidelines of the Singapore International Energy Week event held recently, Rottanak emphasised the urgency of diversifying Cambodia’s

  • Angkor causeway symbol of Cambodia-Japan ties

    In a historic moment marking another milestone in the 70-year-long diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Japan, King Norodom Sihamoni celebrated the formal inauguration of a causeway located to the west of the world-renowned Angkor Wat. While presiding over the November 4 ceremony, the King emphasised the

  • Manet calls for Cambodia’s railways to get back on track

    Prime Minister Hun Manet has instructed the relevant authorities to expedite studies into upgrades to the Phnom Penh to Preah Sihanouk railway line. He suggested that the maximum speed on the line should be increased to 80km/h, in order to expedite the transportation of