Cambodia's PM Prioritises Rural Healthcare Reforms

PHNOM PENH, Sept 16 (Bernama) - - Cambodia is stepping up modernising efforts of its healthcare sector with a strong focus on improving medical services in rural areas, where access to treatment has been challenging due to lack of facilities and infrastructure. 

After making significant progress in developing its economy, creating employment and alleviating poverty throughout the years, the government is focusing on upgrading the healthcare system for its 16 million people. 

Prime Minister Hun Manet said health services must be improved to increase public confidence in the country's healthcare system and bring medical services close to the people. 

"The first step is to expand healthcare services at the grassroots level, including building health posts and district referral health centres, which we are continually developing. Strengthening connected infrastructure is also a critical part of this effort,” said Hun Manet during the Calmette Hospital's new building’s groundbreaking ceremony in the capital today, reported Fresh News. 

Almost 60 per cent of its population is under the age of 30, while it has a sizeable ageing group that needs constant and quality medical care. Lagging proper healthcare infrastructure, changing disease patterns and rising costs of medical care is becoming burdensome to the people.

Amid these challenges, the government has started providing equitable healthcare for all segments by upgrading the necessary infrastructure, ensuring a stable supply of medical equipment and developing professional medical staff to fill the gap in shortage of specialist doctors.

"We continue to strengthen and develop healthcare services using a dual approach. The first approach is top-down, modernising and diversifying healthcare services to be more advanced. 

“The second approach is bottom-up, starting from the grassroots level, with a focus on improving health centres and referral hospitals,” he said.

The government’s move will also reduce Cambodians travelling to neighbouring countries, like Vietnam and Thailand, to seek medical treatment.

According to news portal Kiripost,  about 200,000 to 250,000 Cambodians travelled abroad to seek medical treatment last year.

Hun Manet also urged the Ministry of Health to improve the skills of local doctors to reduce congestion at hospitals in the city due to patients travelling to Phnom Penh for treatment.

-- BERNAMA