Two years ago, my mother was diagnosed with liver cancer. Doctors said the cancer was advanced and inoperable.

As with many cancer cases, my mother’s diagnosis came as a shock. Two months earlier, I had taken her to two well-known private hospitals in Phnom Penh after she had complained about loss of appetite, a thick layer of buildup coating her tongue, and extreme exhaustion. After tests and consultations, including a chest X-ray, doctors gave her antifungal medication and sent us home. They said they did not find any major concern. But her exhaustion persisted, and she was losing weight. We decided to take her to Bangkok, where a CT scan quickly found a large 8.4-centimeter tumor in her liver.

A missed diagnosis such as my mother’s case and other examples of medical errors are some of the reasons many Cambodians seek care in other countries. In 2023, a 22-year-old woman died from complications after her small intestine was mistakenly removed instead of her umbilical cord in a medical procedure performed at a private clinic in Kampong Speu province. Seeking healthcare services abroad has also been driven by Cambodia’s recent economic growth and the ease of regional travel through the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Visa Exemption.

Cambodians who go to another country for medical care come from a wide range of financial situations. A small number of wealthy individuals go to Singapore or other high-income countries for world-class care. Those who can afford less go to Thailand and Vietnam, and some poorer patients with serious diseases undertake long overland journeys to reach them. Many go into debt to pay for healthcare.

During my latest trip to assist with my mother’s cancer treatment in Bangkok, I spoke with a 62-year-old Cambodian man who stayed at a small hotel that my mother usually stays at. He has been going to Bangkok for back pain treatment and said that he trusted the Thai medical system more than Cambodia’s. Another woman at the hotel said she was waiting for test results of a lump in her neck and visiting an elderly aunt who was undergoing surgery. On any given day, two dozen Cambodians fill this hotel, where the staff has learned to speak Khmer and signs are written in Khmer. Some stay for up to a few weeks while receiving medical treatment.

Medical Tourism and the Cost of Care Abroad

There is no comprehensive data on how many Cambodians travel abroad for medical treatment or the amount they spend. A local paper

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