Prime Minister Hun Manet called on all hospitals, health centres and clinics across Cambodia to pay close attention to strengthening the quality of the medical services they provide to the public. He also reminded them of the importance of maintaining high safety standards when it comes to the food and medicine given to patients.

Manet made the call while addressing the October 24 inauguration ceremony of the National Techo Santepheap Hospital, the largest state-of-the-art facility in the Kingdom. He also used the occasion to officially announce the expansion of the government’s Health Equity Funds (HEFs), which give vulnerable populations improved access to health services.

“We must ensure that public hospitals are a place where people’s lives are saved with virtue and compassion. They should be a reliable resource for all Cambodians. I have explained previously that my mandate aims to strengthen, rather than expand, the public health system. This means we aim to build a solid foundation of services through municipal-provincial referral hospitals and health centres,” he said.

He added that the government has no interest in banning the private sector, which continues to modernise and introduce new equipment, but that its priority is on strengthening state facilities.

At the same time, he reminded hospital management teams – as well as all doctors and nurses – to pay their utmost attention to the well-being of patients, regardless of their social status or location.

He also issued a reminder that the safety of all food and medicine is crucial, and must also be guaranteed by all hospitals and health clinics.

“No one is solely a supplier or consumer of course; we all are both supplier and consumers and we must all eat food. Everyone should think whether things they brought from the market, hospital, or a health centre are safe to consume,” he said.

Koh Kong provincial Department of Health director Tov Moeng said on October 24 that the provincial referral hospital – as well as the health centres throughout the coastal province – has been gradually strengthened since the outbreak of Covid-19.

“Improvements to both the provision of medical treatment to patients and other public health measures are ongoing. For example, we have deployed oxygen tanks and other important medical equipment to health centres in all districts,” he added.

“We will continue to strengthen our human resources and the services we deliver. We are continuously upgrading and modernising our facilities,” he continued.

Ley Sopheap, president of the Medical Pharmacist and Dental Federation of Cambodia, welcomed the prime minister’s remarks on strengthening the safety of food and medication. He said most common illnesses are the result of a poor diet or unhygienic food.

“We intend to apply the same encouragement to all private sector entities. We will organise seminars and outreach forums in the coming weeks to demonstrate our support for the prime minister’s recommendations and appeals,” he added.