Health care is sometimes very expensive. Mekong Plus helps the poor for a small part and motivates the community to contribute. If there is an emergency, and for the poor, Mekong Plus covers all costs: for example, when a child is hit by a motorcycle etc.

In Vietnam the network of clinics is sufficient and usually effective for preventive programs. There remains the question of hygiene, often deplorable. For the poor, a minor accident or disease can make the whole family plunge into poverty.

In Cambodia the services are not as good and the health situation is much worse.

In case of illness diagnoses are often whimsical, leading to the consumption of large quantities of useless or dangerous medicines. Sometimes people prefer to go to the city, when it’s not the commune clinic that refers you there, but this is extremely costly especially for the very poor. A return trip to the city can cost the equivalent of the family budget for the month -the peasants are being ripped right off as soon as they get off the bus at the station.

Because of the exorbitant expenses they are often compelled to sell valuable assets like livestock, land or even their house at a low price. Even if they cannot work for a few days could lead to the worst disaster, most peasants do not have insurance, except the solidarity of neighbors. Emergency loans from moneylenders may cost 10% interests per month.