Table 1. Relevant characteristics of the chosen ODs.

Characteristics	Mongkol Borei	Sotnikum	Kirivong
Total population	239,713	259,927	216,326
Population living below the poverty line*	38%	76%	35%
Number of health centres	19	21	20
Referral hospital	Provincial hospital with 195 beds, providing third level care	District hospital with 100 beds, providing second level care	District hospital with 80 beds, providing second level care
Outpatient care for chronic diseases at the referral hospital	Free HIV/AIDS-related care, supported by national programme	Free HIV/AIDS-related care and care for some chronic diseases, supported by national programme and NGO	Free HIV/AIDS-related care, supported by national programme
Public and NGO health facilities at the provincial town	No	Provincial hospital Two free NGO paediatric hospitals about 30 km away	Provincial hospital at 40 km away
Private health providers in the district	Many informal and formal practices Several high profile private clinics with operation theatre	Many low profile private practices Some higher profile clinics in Siem Reap town	Many low profile private practices (private practices by hospital personnel were restricted)
Health Equity Fund	At the referral hospital and few health centres All with pre-identification, and NGO operator	At the referral hospital and few health centres Approx. 1/3rd with pre-identification, and NGO operator	At the referral hospital and all health centres All with pre-identification, and pagoda-based operator
Households identified as eligible for Health Equity Fund**	30%	30%	21%

*Source: Estimation of Poverty Rate at Commune Level in Cambodia 2002, Ministry of Planning and WFP.

**Estimation based on results of recent identification of poor households conducted in these areas.