Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to open a temporary border crossing in the Cambodian province of Banteay Meanchey to facilitate the transport of patients seeking emergency medical treatment in Thailand.
The crossing, located near the 43rd boundary marker in Sa Kaeo province, is neither a permanent border checkpoint that would be used as a gateway for people to enter or leave the two countries, nor is it an ad hoc checkpoint opened for certain purposes for a specified period of time, according to a recent meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Township Border Committee.
A temporary border crossing point is primarily aimed at facilitating humanitarian assistance, the meeting said.
The crossing will provide a channel for transporting patients in Banteay Meanchey's Ou Chrov district who need urgent medical attention to local hospitals in Sa Kaeo.
It is intended to help poor people with medical conditions.
Delegations from the two countries, led by the Sa Kaeo and Banteay Menchey governors, signed a memorandum of understanding to mark the opening of the crossing.
Authorities want to ensure that emergency treatment can be provided to patients promptly, even at night.
There are three existing crossings on the border with Banteay Meanchey and the other Cambodian province of Battambang which are open between 9am and 5pm.
Thai officials said they need about a month to prepare for the opening of the new crossing, which is situated opposite Ban Non Makmun in Sa Kaeo's Khok Sung district.
During the meeting, Thai and Cambodian delegates also agreed to encourage Cambodian people who want to work in Thailand to follow legal procedures.
The Thai government has raised concerns over the issue, given the large number of migrant workers in Thailand, many of whom become the targets of gangs if they have not entered the country legally.
Officials are currently registering illegal migrant workers to better regulate them and make sure they can access labour protection welfare.
The opening of the new Sa Kaeo-Banteay Meanchey crossing is one of the joint development projects initiated by the two countries.
In another related development, Thai and Cambodian authorities will hold a ceremony to mark the upgrade of the Ban Khao Din border crossing point in Sa Kaeo's Khlong Hat district to a permanent border checkpoint later this month.
After the upgrade, the checkpoint will extend its opening hours to 6am-10pm.