Cambodia’s
public health workers are underpaid and poorly trained, with a whopping 98 per
cent relying on a second job to supplement their income, according to a recent
report.
The
report, which analyses whether Cambodian health workers are motivated by
income, was published by Global Health Action on June 17 and called for
immediate policy changes to ensure financial incentives were “just and
objective”, and that workers were trained properly.
Just 17
per cent said their income – which averaged $190 a month – was sufficient to
live on, while the majority (58 per cent) said they were not adequately trained
for their jobs as nurses and midwives.
Report
author Khim Keovathanak, a researcher at the University of Health Sciences’
public health department, said although the report found health workers were
motivated by community respect, and income alone was not a guarantee for
quality services, it was still “a major contributor”.
“The
impact of insufficient income is some compromise on the quality of service
delivery,” he said via email, adding there “absolutely” needed to be higher
salaries and better training.
According
to interviews, he said, distribution of provincial Special Operating Agencies incentives
– a sort of target-based bonus scheme – had shortcomings, such as some
providers receiving higher incentives although they worked less.
Health
Minister Mam Bunheng, however, said the SOA incentives were “working well” and
salaries were unlikely to increase in the near future, as the minimum wage for
government health workers had already been lifted to $200 per month in April.
“I don’t
see it is high enough, but it is appropriate for now,” he said. “Our staff can
earn more by undertaking extra functions, such as night duty.”
While
Bunheng said that extra training was available for workers, Chum Sopha,
executive director at Health and Development Alliance, said many did not apply
because they could not afford it, and added that patients could be put at risk
if staff were underpaid.
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