A Cambodian’s story as medical interpreter in Bangkok

Khiev Sopheatra is one of the three Cambodian interpreters employed by Piyavate Hospital in Bangkok, where up to 30% of the foreign patients are Cambodian.

Since the start of this year up to July, approximately 2,600 Cambodian patients received medical services at Piyavate Hospital, generating an income of about 43 million baht.

At the hospital, patients from Middle Eastern countries make up the largest group (40%), followed by patients from Cambodia (30%), China (20%) and others (10%).

“Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Cambodian patients at the hospital has increased by 80%,” said Sopheatra. They are mostly middle-class Cambodians, he added.

He explained that Cambodians trust the doctors in Thailand because they are highly skilled and recovery times are relatively short. This has become known through the hospital’s marketing, PR and word of mouth, he said.

Cambodians who seek medical services in Thailand typically stay for around four days. In addition to seeing doctors, they also go shopping, sightseeing and travel around the country, he said, adding "Thailand is a country where you never get bored of travelling, as there are many tourist attractions and shopping spots.”

Back in 2014, when he was in the rural province of Kampot, in southwestern Cambodia, his desire to come to Thailand was sparked by Thai soap operas on TV. “I saw the skyscrapers and thought, 'Wow! Bangkok is such a civilized city. I want to live there and have a lifestyle like the ones on TV,'” he said with enthusiasm in his eyes, adding, “When I arrived here, it was beyond expectations. Bangkok is so big.”

Moreover, he says it is safe and convenient with various kinds of transportation available, such as buses, subways and sky trains.

Sopheatra has been working at Piyavate Hospital as an interpreter since 2016. Before this he worked at a restaurant as a dishwasher and waiter. Then, he learned Thai and became an interpreter.

His responsibilities at the hospital include accompanying patients and translating to and from Khmer, from the reception area through the entire medical process.

"I love my job," he said.

“Working as an interpreter is an opportunity to help people. I assist patients when seeing the doctors and receiving treatment. The patients recover and go back home. I am part of saving their lives. I feel very happy,” Sopheatra added.

In addition to his role as an interpreter, in the first half of the day, he also runs a Khmer restaurant, where he spends his afternoons managing the business.

While having lunch at his restaurant, which included stir-fried chayote leaves, he told Thai PBS World that Cambodian people like chayote leaves, and so do Thai people, adding “it is nutritious. It’s not unusual for us to like the same things.”

Sopheatra says that he thinks there are many similarities between Thailand and Cambodia. We have similar food, culture and religion.

When asked how he sees himself in the next ten years, he said he will continue to do his best as an interpreter at the hospital and increase the number of branches of his restaurant, both in Thailand and abroad.

Video by Att Boonyatus

Article by Neeranuch Kunakorn