Cambodia allows private healthcare providers to treat Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms

Medical workers preparing to take samples from officials at the Kratie Provincial Hall for Covid-19 testing on Monday (Aug 30, 2021). - Phnom Penh Post/ANN

PHNOM PENH, Aug 31 (Xinhua): Cambodia has allowed private hospitals and clinics to treat Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms at their homes, as the kingdom's vaccination coverage reached 66 per cent of its total population.

Health Minister Mam Bunheng said in a statement on Tuesday (Aug 31) that interested private healthcare providers can first apply for permission from the Ministry of Health (MoH).

"The applicants must have well-trained doctors and staff for taking care of and treating Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms," he said. "Those doctors must undergo a 14-day quarantine after providing care and treatment to the Covid-19 patients."

Before giving treatment to Covid19 patients at their homes, the licensed private hospitals or clinics are also required to get permission from local authorities, where the patients live, the minister added.

The move came after the country vaccinated the majority of its population against Covid-19.

The kingdom began its inoculation drive in February, targeting to vaccinate 12 million people, or 75 percent of its 16-million population by the end of this year.

As of Aug 30, some 10.69 million people, or 66.8 percent of the total population, have received at least one vaccine dose, while 8.45 million of them have received both required shots. - Xinhua