Cambodia has made significant strides in improving its healthcare system in recent decades, but challenges remain in achieving universal healthcare coverage and ensuring equitable access to quality care for all its citizens.
Achievements and Progress
Increased Life Expectancy: Cambodia has seen a notable increase in life expectancy, from 58 years in 1993 to 71 years in 2021, reflecting improvements in healthcare access and service delivery.
Reduced Child Mortality: The under-five mortality rate has significantly decreased due to improved immunization coverage, access to clean water and sanitation, and better nutrition.
Expanded Healthcare Infrastructure: The government has invested in expanding the network of health centers and hospitals, particularly in rural areas, improving access to healthcare services for previously underserved populations.
Health Financing Reforms: Initiatives like the Health Equity Fund have aimed to reduce financial barriers to healthcare for the poor, increasing access to essential services.
Ongoing Challenges
- Unequal Access: Disparities in healthcare access and quality persist, with rural populations and marginalized groups facing greater barriers to care compared to urban dwellers.
- Shortage of Skilled Healthcare Workers: Cambodia faces a shortage of qualified doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, particularly in rural areas. This limits the availability and quality of healthcare services.
- High Out-of-Pocket Expenditure: Despite efforts to reduce financial barriers, out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure remains high for many Cambodians, posing a significant burden on households.
- Non-Communicable Diseases: The rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer is putting additional strain on the healthcare system.
- Quality of Care: While access to healthcare has improved, the quality of care remains a concern, with issues like inadequate infrastructure, limited access to essential medicines, and insufficient training for healthcare workers.
Government Initiatives and Future Outlook
The Cambodian government has recognized these challenges and is implementing various initiatives to address them:
- Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP): This comprehensive plan outlines the government’s vision for achieving universal health coverage and improving healthcare quality by 2030.
- National Social Security Fund (NSSF): The NSSF is expanding its health insurance coverage to include informal workers and vulnerable populations, aiming to reduce financial barriers to healthcare.
- Human Resources for Health (HRH) Development: The government is investing in training and education programs to increase the number and quality of healthcare workers across the country.
While challenges remain, Cambodia’s healthcare system is on a positive trajectory. Continued investment in infrastructure, human resources, and health financing reforms, along with a focus on quality improvement, are essential to achieving the goal of universal health coverage and ensuring that all Cambodians have access to the quality healthcare they need.
