Phnom penh: Cambodian Minister of Health H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra has called for stronger equity, quality and trust in healthcare systems to advance universal health coverage (UHC), emphasizing that UHC is not merely a matter of financing, hospitals, medicines or health insurance, but a social contract that ensures everyone has access to healthcare regardless of where they live, their age, income or ability to pay.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra made these remarks while delivering a keynote address at the 9th Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians' Forum on Global Health (9th APPF-GH), hosted by Cambodia from Aug. 11 to 13 at the National Assembly Palace in Phnom Penh under the theme 'Universal Health Coverage in the Era of Climate Change and Artificial Intelligence.'
H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra stated that Cambodia is advancing UHC through a pragmatic, primary healthcare-led approach aimed at strengthening health-system resilience, working closely with communities and other sectors, and addressing the broader determinants of health. He noted that stronger primary healthcare can promote greater equity while improving the efficiency of public health spending.
However, the Minister pointed out several challenges, including shortages of health workers compared with WHO-recommended ratios, insufficient infrastructure, a large and fragmented private health sector with quality and safety concerns, and geographical disparities in the distribution of health services. He noted that up to 70 percent of specialist physicians are concentrated in Phnom Penh.
Cambodia's UHC reforms are guided by principles of universality, a multisectoral approach to expanding health protection, inclusive benefit packages reflecting community needs, and strategic purchasing based on health outcomes, population needs, efficiency and transparency, the Minister underlined.
Under the Royal Government of Cambodia's Roadmap Towards Universal Health Coverage 2024-2035, the country has set quantitative targets for 2035. These include protecting 80 percent of the population against health risks, achieving 80 percent coverage of essential health services, and reducing out-of-pocket health expenditure to 35 percent.
Addressing climate change, H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra said environmental changes are redefining the requirements for resilient health systems. He mentioned that extreme heat, floods, droughts, changing patterns of vector-borne diseases, food insecurity, air pollution, and population displacement can all have significant impacts on public health.
He highlighted that a resilient health system must be capable of protecting communities during such events while ensuring that hospitals and health centres continue operating and health workers remain prepared. He stressed the importance of the One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
The Minister described artificial intelligence (AI) as both a major opportunity and a significant responsibility for the health sector. AI can help analyze data more rapidly, support diagnosis, improve the use of health workers, strengthen disease surveillance, predict disease outbreaks, and bring medical expertise closer to people living in remote areas.
However, he emphasized that technological advances must remain centred on people. He said, 'Innovation cannot replace compassion, technology cannot replace responsibility, and efficiency cannot replace equity,' stressing that AI should strengthen human capabilities rather than diminish human responsibility.
H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra underscored that achieving UHC cannot be the responsibility of the Ministry of Health alone. It requires strong support from parliamentarians and cooperation across political, legislative, financial, social protection, education, infrastructure, and environmental sectors.
He called on parliamentarians, as representatives of the people, to support improvements in healthcare quality, particularly for vulnerable groups, including the poor, people living in remote areas, older persons, persons with disabilities, women and children.
Concluding his address, the Minister proposed three key priorities for the forum: protecting every person by making equity a core criterion of health policies; preparing every health system to withstand and respond to pandemics, climate change, disasters, and demographic shifts; and placing every form of innovation at the service of people by harnessing data, digital technology, and AI while ensuring that healthcare remains humane.
He also emphasized that strong governance and leadership are universally critical to achieving successful health reforms, stressing the shared commitment of countries to strengthen these factors and ensure that no one is left behind.