The Asia Children’s Medical Center, a 200-Bed Hospital Built Entirely from Donations Exceeding 800 million Yen, Celebrates Its Grand Opening.
Japan Heart, a Japan-born international medical NGO (Headquarters: Taito-ku, Tokyo / Chairperson: Haruna Yoshioka), held the opening ceremony today for the Japan Heart Asia Children’s Medical Center, a new hospital built in Cambodia as a flagship project aimed at eliminating survival disparities across Asia.
The ceremony welcomed distinguished guests including:
H.E. Atsushi Ueno, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Cambodia
H.E. Chhea Chhean, Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia
Along with Japanese supporters, partner companies, and Japan Heart staff, a total of around 300 participants from both countries gathered to celebrate the birth of this hospital—made possible through the collaboration and goodwill of many people.
Since its founding in 2004, Japan Heart has devoted itself to saving children’s lives. The establishment of the Asia Children’s Medical Center marks the organization’s boldest undertaking to date.
Launched in 2022 (publicly announced in January 2023), the project pursues the goal of eliminating the survival gap between low-income and high-income countries in Asia.
Two core focus areas guide the initiative:
Pediatric cancer treatment is a field severely affected by global disparities due to high treatment complexity and cost
Training local medical professionals to build sustainable healthcare systems rather than aid-dependent structures
In addition, the hospital aims to redefine what a medical facility can be by embodying the concept of a “hospital where children want to come.”
Plans include playful, child-friendly spaces to support children during long-term hospitalization and initiatives that provide emotional care not only to young patients but also to their families who accompany them.
These visions resonated widely, drawing support from over 5,000 individual donors and 177 companies, resulting in more than 800 million yen raised for the hospital’s construction.
Dr. Hideto Yoshioka
The ceremony featured a welcome speech by Japan Heart founder and project initiator Dr. Hideto Yoshioka, guest speeches, prayers by local monks, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Scenes from the ceremony
Following the opening, equipment installation and patient transfer from the existing hospital will take place.
The hospital will begin operations on November 7, starting with 100 beds dedicated to pediatric cancer patients. Outpatient services will also begin within the same month, and the hospital aims to gradually expand its clinical scope to become a comprehensive pediatric medical center in the coming years.
With the relocation of all pediatric departments to the new center, the existing Japan Heart Children’s Medical Center has been renamed the Japan Heart Medical Center, continuing to provide adult care and serve as a core institution for community healthcare.
Comments from Japan Heart leadership are provided below.
Sho Sato, COO of Japan Heart/ Head of Asia Children’s Medical Center Project
“The Asia Children’s Medical Center project, which began three years ago, has finally reached its opening day thanks to the heartfelt support of so many people.
Building a 200-bed hospital within just three years was far from easy. Behind this achievement lies a shared determination to save as many children as possible, especially those who might lose their lives while waiting for access to care.
In Cambodia, about 300 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, and we aim to provide treatment to half of them around 150 children at this hospital.
We will continue striving to make this hospital the first step toward a world where a child’s chance of survival is not determined by the place they are born.”
About the Japan Heart Asia Children’s Medical Center
Opened in October 2025 near Phnom Penh, Cambodia, this 200-bed pediatric medical center is Japan Heart’s second self-operated hospital. Guided by the philosophy “Medical care for all children, equally,” the center aims to become a regional hub for advanced pediatric care while working toward the elimination of the survival gap between developing and developed countries in Asia.
The hospital focuses particularly on:
Free treatment for pediatric cancer, a specialty with severe disparities in survival outcomes
Strengthening local medical capacity to ensure long-term sustainability
Located in Takhmao City near the international airport opened in September 2025, the center improves both capacity and accessibility compared to Japan Heart’s existing facility (now renamed Japan Heart Medical Center). This expansion enables the organization to reach more children living in poverty in Cambodia and neighboring countries.
Beyond serving as a healthcare facility, the center seeks to realize the vision of a “hospital where children want to come”, developing initiatives that support the emotional well-being of both patients and their families.
Special website in Japanese:https://japanheart-hospital.org/