Cambodia Reports First Successful Kidney Transplant in Phnom Penh

A programme years in the making

Cambodia's Ministry of Health began developing its kidney transplantation programme in 2019 with support from France. The initiative was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Work resumed in late 2025, when Cambodian medical staff travelled to Lyon for specialist training and exchanges with Hospices Civils de Lyon, the city's public university hospital group.

On 6 October, representatives of Cambodia's healthcare sector and their French partners marked the first successful procedure at the French Embassy in Phnom Penh. Health Minister Chheang Ra set out the priorities for sustaining the programme: professional training, an appropriate legal and ethical framework, and continued care for transplant patients.

The operation also prompted discussions about the less visible work behind transplantation. The Institut Pasteur du Cambodge said its specialists met Calmette and Lyon hospital representatives on 6 October to discuss infection risks in patients whose immune defences are weakened after a transplant.

For practical context, see Cambodia market and country comparisons. This development also connects with MH WellFest Cambodia to Bring 14 Malaysian Hospitals to Phnom Penh.

The first recipient had been receiving dialysis

An 8 October report from Cambodian state news agency AKP identified the recipient as a teacher from Prey Veng province. She had previously undergone regular dialysis at Calmette Hospital. According to the report, Cambodian and French doctors took part in her care, and a kidney donor made the procedure possible.

Calmette already provides chronic and emergency dialysis services. Performing a transplant is a different clinical milestone, particularly for patients with end-stage kidney disease who may be considered for this treatment. A successful operation is only the beginning of their care; ongoing monitoring and management of potential complications remain essential.

Availability, eligibility and cost have not been specified

The announcements published on 7 and 8 October do not give a general application process, patient-selection criteria, pricing or a schedule for further transplants. Nor do they establish whether foreign residents will be eligible or which insurers, if any, would cover treatment. The confirmed achievement is the first procedure, not the opening of an unrestricted national service.

This is encouraging news for people assessing healthcare options during a long stay in Cambodia. Anyone who needs continuing kidney treatment, however, still requires a care plan based on services a hospital can actually provide, with a nephrologist advising on their specific condition. Follow-up appointments, access to medicines and financial arrangements may prove just as important as the location of the surgery.