The Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation received more than $22 million in funding in the first half of the year, a slight increase over the same period in 2024. However, virtually the whole amount has been used to provide free medical services for children.
According to a July 31 report from a recent Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation council meeting, the foundation’s total income for the first six months of 2025 was $22.16 million, reflecting 3 per cent year-on-year growth.
This funding came from several key sources, including annual contributions from the Royal Government, the Cambodian Red Cross, revenue from ticket surcharges to Angkor Wat and donations from the public, especially through this year’s “10,000 Riel, 10,000 People” campaign, which was led by first lady Pich Chanmony, the honorary president of the foundation, during June.
During this time, the foundation disbursed more than $5 million to Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospitals, in addition to the $10 million allocated by the government through the Ministry of Health and the Swiss Kantha Bopha Foundation, to support hospital operations.
Despite the increased income, the hospitals spent a total of around $22 million to ensure uninterrupted delivery of free medical services.
In the first half of 2025 alone, Kantha Bopha hospitals provided free care for children, infants, and pregnant women, including 503,233 outpatient consultations. 96,237 children were hospitalised with serious illnesses and 3,964 dengue cases. In addition, there were 16,118 pediatric surgeries and 550 congenital heart surgeries.
Antenatal care was provided to 51,797 pregnant women, and a total of 9,471 children were born at Jayavarman VII Hospital and Kantha Bopha Siem Reap.
The hospitals also continued providing ongoing medical training programmes, to enhance the capacity of specialist doctors.
The board endorsed the operational direction for the second half of the year, which will focus on fundraising and awareness activities, including outreach meetings with the foundation’s support committees at ministries and provincial administrations, expanding outreach through well-known public figures, and encouraging participation from financial institutions and partners in various fundraising initiatives.
Additional activities planned include outreach in major universities in Phnom Penh and the provinces, producing promotional videos about the Foundation and hospitals, commemorating the anniversary of the passing of founder Dr. Beat Richner and publishing special messages for important occasions.
They are also developing new digital platforms and a mobile app that will allow domestic and international donations, and mobilising charity contributions during personal and family celebrations.
