Prime Minister Hun Manet has inaugurated the construction of the Kingdom’s first-ever public university hospital under the University of Health Sciences (UHS) in Phnom Penh. He also used the occasion to urge the public to invest in health care through the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
Located in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district, Khmuonh commune, the hospital is funded by a $66.57 million concessional loan from South Korea. Construction is expected to take 28 months, and the hospital will be managed by the University of Health Sciences as a teaching facility.
Addressing this morning’s December 10 groundbreaking ceremony, Minister of Health Chheang Ra described the initiative as a historic milestone for Cambodia’s healthcare sector.
He explained that the facility will serve as a foundation for theoretical education, hands-on training for students and health-related research. The hospital will contribute to Phase 1 of the fifth-mandate government’s Pentagonal Strategy, aimed at national development.
Prime Minister Hun Manet reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare sector, highlighting ongoing recruitment efforts for healthcare workers, which have been prioritised alongside education staff.
“Many ministries had their recruitment frozen last year based on functional analysis, but the health and education ministries were exceptions, along with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which required staff to be deployed at the grassroots level. There is a significant need for medical workers and teachers,” he said.
As of now, Cambodia has 125 referral hospitals, 1,216 health centres and 131 health posts, according to Manet.
He urged the health ministry to strengthen professional ethics and conduct among medical practitioners and pay closer attention to food safety in schools to prevent health issues such as diabetes among children.
Additionally, he encouraged citizens to actively participate in healthcare investments, such as enrolling in the NSSF. He proposed that relevant ministries explore the possibility of expanding healthcare services into comprehensive family packages, rather than on individual basis.
“This would ensure a holistic approach to health, covering entire families under one system,” he suggested.
It is expected that the university hospital will not only elevate healthcare standards but also act as a hub for medical education and research, shaping the next generation of Cambodian medical professionals, while advancing the country’s healthcare infrastructure.
