Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation (BTCF), together with local partners and a team of medical volunteers from Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Cambodia, held a large-scale free clinic in Takeo Province, Cambodia.
The free clinic was held at Prey Kabas Referral Hospital, covering five departments: internal medicine, surgery, dentistry, traditional Chinese medicine and ophthalmology, benefiting a total of 3,701 patients over three days.
Rural healthcare in Cambodia, especially in provinces such as Takeo, remains very limited, with only 1.4 medical staff per 1,000 people, and most doctors are concentrated in Phnom Penh. High out-of-pocket expenses (about 55% of medical expenditures) further limit the access to medical services for the rural population.
Although the government is improving infrastructure, conducting training, and launching financial support programs such as the Health Equity Fund to improve the quality and affordability of medical care, mobile clinics of non-governmental organizations such as Tzu Chi play a vital role in providing free medical services, helping to fill the medical gap in areas with scarce medical resources.
Volunteers from five countries began mobilizing as early as May 27. On May 29, the Singaporean team set off for Cambodia with 31 boxes of medical equipment and supplies, including dental materials purchased locally due to shortages in Cambodia.
On the same day, medical teams from various Tzu Chi hospitals held a pre-departure briefing. In the evening, 23 Malaysian volunteers departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to join the operation.
On May 30, the Tzu Chi Eye Center team from the Philippines arrived in Cambodia, ready to perform more than 100 cataract and pterygium surgeries. Local Cambodian partners, including the Samdech Techo Youth Volunteer Doctors Association (TYDA), have also provided on-site support.
In the face of each case, the doctor not only uses medical expertise, but also pours deep empathy. Pum Nget suffered from uncontrollable tremors for more than ten years. After three days of acupuncture and massage treatment by Dr. Wang from Malaysia, his condition improved significantly.
Dr. Wang also provided home care training for his wife. Ra Pisey could not afford dental treatment, so she received root canal treatment and dental restoration care under the guidance of Dr. Tang Kok-wing in Singapore, which relieved her toothache for six months and helped her regain her confidence.
During the clinic, Dr. Tang suddenly felt chest pain, but a fellow doctor quickly performed an electrocardiogram on her and confirmed that she had no heart or lung problems. Despite the unbearable pain, he insisted on continuing to provide dental care until the end of his mission.
Young mother Lin Shiweimei brought her two-year-old daughter to treat severe seborrheic dermatitis; after multiple visits to the hospital and trying harmful traditional treatments, she finally received the right diagnosis and effective treatment, which rekindled her hope for her daughter’s recovery.
During the three-day free clinic, Tzu Chi served a total of 933 shifts and 3,701 patients. Among them, 1,657 patients were treated in internal medicine, 757 patients in dentistry, 901 patients in traditional Chinese medicine, 230 patients in ophthalmology, and 156 surgeries were performed.
At the end of the free clinic, Tzu Chi donated wheelchairs to Prey Kabas Referral Hospital and performed traditional Khmer dances, with medical staff and volunteers celebrating the beauty of healing and unity. This is the sixth large-scale free clinic organized by Tzu Chi in Cambodia since 2017.
In 2016, Tzu Chi provided disaster relief services to the victims of massive floods in Cambodia that affected two-thirds of the provinces. Tzu Chi has since held large-scale free clinics. The event is known for its cross-border medical cooperation and services to thousands of patients.
Previously, Tzu Chi has held large-scale free clinics in Chamkar Leu (2017), Kampong Tralach (2018), Takeo (Prey Kabbas, March 2019), Ek Phnom (November 2019), Krong Battambang and Bavel (November 2024).
This far-reaching mission reflects Tzu Chi’s long-term commitment to Cambodia, which began with relief work following the 1994 Cambodian drought and floods. Although relief work was suspended in 1997 due to political unrest, they resumed relief work in 2011 in response to a severe flood crisis, and have since steadily expanded their services to provinces such as Takeo, meeting the country’s ongoing healthcare needs through compassion and continued engagement.
The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is a global non-profit humanitarian organization founded by Master Cheng Yen in 1966. Its mission encompasses healthcare, charity, education and humanistic care, and has brought disaster relief to 136 countries.
The purpose of Tzu Chi is encapsulated in its name: “Tzu” means compassion and “Chi” means relief, aiming to alleviate the suffering of people affected by disasters and create a better world for all through compassion, love and hope.
