When we look back on 2025, the first thing that comes to mind is the support of so many people.
For Japan Heart as a whole and especially for our Cambodia operations 2025 marked a major milestone. At the same time, it was a year in which we steadily moved forward, step by step, supported by countless individuals.
Behind our continued activities and our ability to deliver healthcare in Cambodia has always been the presence of our supporters. Daily medical consultations, surgeries, and each new initiative are never sustained by the field alone; they are built upon the continued support we receive from all of you.
Reflecting on this past year is by no means easy.
That is how many events unfolded, how many challenges we faced, and how much effort was accumulated along the way.
In this report, we look back on our journey in 2025, focusing on three key pillars: the opening of our new hospital, outreach surgical missions, and human resource development.
A Year in Which Three Years of Effort Took Shape
The most symbolic event of 2025 was the opening of the Japan Heart Asia Pediatric Medical Center.
On October 31, we successfully held the opening ceremony for the new hospital, and nearly two months have passed since it began full operations.
The new hospital project, launched three years ago, has been guided by a single conviction: that all children should have equal access to medical care, regardless of where they are born or raised. Carrying this belief with us, we have continued to move forward step by step.
As construction progressed in stages throughout 2025, preparations to support lives as a functioning hospital also intensified. Training for the introduction of electronic medical records, workflow simulations based on actual clinical practice, and the relocation associated with the hospital’s opening all took place simultaneously. Behind the visible completion of the building, countless fine adjustments and repeated trial and error were required to ensure a smooth transition to the new environment without interrupting daily medical services.
Between the opening ceremony and the start of full operations, we faced a series of moments that demanded careful judgment relocating pediatric cancer ward patients, launching outpatient services, and performing the very first surgeries in the new hospital. Each step was essential to ensuring what should always be “safely routine.” Alongside current staff, former members who had been involved with the center in the past also gathered, united by a shared desire to make this hospital a better place. Together, they worked as one team to build the hospital.
Although outpatient numbers were limited at the beginning, they have steadily increased. On busy days, 50 to 60 patients now visit the hospital, with an average of around 30 patients per day. As of mid-December, the cumulative number of outpatient visits had reached 1,081, and 25 surgeries had been performed. Each of these figures represents tangible proof that the new hospital has begun to fulfill its role within the community.
A hospital does not end with the completion of a building, it is only the beginning.
After three years of preparation, this place has finally come to life. We will continue to take steady steps forward so that it becomes a safe and reliable base for children and their families.
Reaching Areas Without Access to Care: Staying True to Our Roots
Outreach surgical missions continue to play a vital role in our activities in Cambodia.
Even after the opening of the new hospital, medical services at the Japan Heart Medical Center have continued, and outreach surgeries remain one of our most important initiatives for delivering healthcare directly to those in need.
Access to medical care is still limited, and some patients travel for hours sometimes even longer reaching the Japan Heart Medical Center as their “last resort.” In this context, delivering medical care to underserved areas while simultaneously training local healthcare providers is essential for building a sustainable healthcare system.
This approach dates to 2009, when Japan Heart first began its activities in Cambodia through outreach medical services. Today, our local staff participate in surgeries alongside medical professionals at partner hospitals, providing guidance and sharing experience. Looking ahead, we are working toward a system in which partner hospital staff can independently lead to surgical care.
In 2025, we conducted a total of five outreach surgical missions, performing approximately 90 surgeries. Each of these surgeries represented a precious medical opportunity for the local community and a meaningful step toward the future. In addition to these missions, Japan Heart conducted its first-ever breast cancer screenings, further expanding both the reach and scope of healthcare delivery.
Connecting Healthcare to the Future Through Human Resource Development
Dr. Ratana performing laparoscopic surgery
Dr. Siphan performing surgery together with Dr. Hiramatsu
In 2025, approximately 30 intensive surgical activities were carried out. Through these experiences, local medical professionals steadily built their skills, learning directly from Japanese medical staff. As a result, there are now more situations in which local healthcare providers take the lead in decision-making and response, making it possible to deliver more advanced medical care that would be difficult under standard clinical systems.
One example is laparoscopic surgery, which Japan Heart performed for the first time within the organization in 2024. In 2025, the number of laparoscopic procedures gradually increased. Through these efforts, Dr. Ratana, a Cambodian physician, continues to work toward his goal of expanding laparoscopic surgery so that more patients can undergo operations safely and with confidence.
Meanwhile, Dr. Siphan has accumulated extensive experience particularly in technical skills through years of working alongside Japanese medical professionals. Today, he actively engages in daily clinical practice with the goal of growing the new hospital into a pediatric medical center that is widely trusted throughout the country.
As of the end of December 2025, the combined number of outpatient visits at the Japan Heart Medical Center and the Asia Pediatric Medical Center reached approximately 21,000, with around 1,800 surgeries performed. This scale of medical service is supported by the steady accumulation of human resource development over time.
Through each surgery and each on-site experience, staff members gain confidence, take on their respective roles, and pass healthcare on to the next generation. This ongoing process reminds us that our efforts are not only for the present but are firmly connected to the future.
A Year Made Possible by Support
Our ability to continue our activities safely throughout 2025 was made possible only through the support we receive from all of you.
With the opening of the new hospital marking a major milestone, each staff member on the ground felt the weight and significance of that support more deeply than ever.
Your contributions are not only reflected in the hospital building itself, but also in the preparations to welcome patients, the systems that deliver care, and the time devoted to nurturing people. They come to life each day in the relieved expressions of patients, the words of reassurance from families after surgery, and the growth of staff members as they continue to learn.
This warm support encourages us, gives us strength, and helps us move forward even when we face uncertainty. We extend our heartfelt gratitude.
Moving ahead, we will continue to cherish the trust placed in us and advance step by step in Cambodia delivering reliable healthcare and nurturing people who will carry it into the future.
A. Takahashi
Cambodia Staff of Japan Heart