Phnom Penh: Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to support Cambodia’s health priorities to contribute to the country’s ambition to achieve universal health coverage by 2035. Australia’s Ambassador to Cambodia, H.E. Derek Yip, highlighted the commitment in a meeting with Minister of Health, H.E. Professor Chheang Ra, at the ministry on Wednesday.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the reaffirmation followed H.E. Professor Chheang Ra’s briefing about his ministry’s priority plan under the 7th mandate of the Royal Government of Cambodia. The plan focuses on the strengthening of health centres as well as the district and provincial referral hospitals through the improvement of medical facilities, medicine supply, and staff training, said the minister.

He added that it also includes effective containment of non-communicable diseases, capacity building for medical personnel, leadership and innovation for public health services, and the development of digital health. H.E. Derek Yip vowed to support the prio
rities through further expansion of bilateral cooperation, public-private partnerships to promote the health sector, and provision of more health scholarships to Cambodian civil servants and students.

Thanking Australia for its continuous support, H.E. Professor Chheang Ra emphasised the effectiveness of health projects assisted by the country to build a resilient healthcare system in Cambodia.