kas

Short story:

Proloeng has finished a long day developing code for Kingdom Games, a startup firm based in Phnom Penh that aims to break into the global e-game market. As is normal on Thursdays, he is heading to football practice in Toul Tompoung’s expanded sports district. Today, however, he must stop by the pharmacist en route to pick up his wife’s cold and flu medication. Thankfully the process is effortless, as his wife has already sent across her prescription with a note that Proloeng will collect. All he needs to do is confirm his identity through his Cambodian Carte Vitale, and pick it up, and unlike years before, no payment is required. Having picked up the prescription, Proloeng continues on to football. One hour into training he finds himself on the wrong end of a tackle and requires hospital treatment. Fortunately, the ambulance is able to arrive within thirty minutes and take him to the hospital for x-rays. It turns out that Proloeng has suffered a broken leg requiring three months of crutches and rehabilitation. While frustrated by the idea of not being able to play his favorite sport for some time, Proloeng reminds himself that he is lucky to live in a country that takes care of its ill and infirmed. The combination of no upfront medical costs under universal coverage and a well-trained medical workforce help to remove a considerable burden when it comes to medical treatment.

Read here the full academic text!