Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rising at an alarming rate in Cambodia, with deaths linked to these conditions now accounting for more than 50 per cent of total mortality, posing a growing challenge to the country’s healthcare system and public well-being.
The warning was issued by Minister of Health Chheang Ra during a January 26 press conference at the 45th National Health Congress.
The minister noted that globally, NCDs account for around 71 per cent of all deaths. While Cambodia remains below that global average, he cautioned that the trend is steadily moving upward due to changes in lifestyle and living conditions.
“Cambodia is still below the global average, but we are clearly on an upward trajectory,” Ra said.
“This is why we must place strong emphasis on health education and the promotion of healthy behaviours,” he added.
According to the health ministry, newly registered cases of hypertension reached 451,009, an increase of more than 12 per cent, while new diabetes cases surged to over 290,000, marking a sharp rise of 26.8 per cent.
The ministry partially attributed the increase to improved public awareness and greater use of public health services.
Mental health issues have also become increasingly prominent. More than 380,000 people sought mental health services, up 37.8 per cent compared with 2024.
At the same time, over 7,400 people received treatment related to drug use, including 555 women.
To address the growing burden of chronic illness, the ministry launched a national cancer research programme in May 2025, aimed at strengthening data collection and improving treatment strategies for cancer patients.
Despite the rising NCD burden, the minister highlighted significant gains in overall health service delivery.
In 2025, outpatient consultations exceeded 21 million cases, an increase of 13.23 per cent, reflecting growing public trust in state-run health services. Hospital mortality rates, he added, have been kept below one per cent.
Progress was also reported in maternal and child health. Approximately 250,000 women gave birth nationwide, with deliveries at health centres increasing by 39 per cent and at referral hospitals by more than 56 per cent.
Nearly all births were attended by professionally trained midwives, while deliveries assisted by traditional birth attendants accounted for just 0.04 per cent, or slightly over 100 cases, mainly in communities adhering to traditional practices.
Cambodia’s national immunisation programme also recorded strong performance, with average vaccine coverage reaching 93.14 per cent across all routine vaccinations.
On communicable diseases, the minister said Cambodia has made substantial progress, though challenges remain.
New HIV infections stand at around 1,200 cases per year, or about three cases per day.
“We have achieved major successes compared to the period of widespread transmission,” Ra said.
“But we want to see this number reduced even further,” he added.
Tuberculosis remains a concern, with around 30,000 new cases reported annually. However, the treatment success rate stands at 96 per cent, and mortality has declined to 18 deaths per 100,000 patients.
After more than a decade of efforts, Cambodia is nearing its goal of eliminating malaria.
If no new cases were detected during the final three months of 2025, the country is expected to declare success.
Still, the minister warned that imported cases remain a risk, reflecting global disease trends.
Dengue fever has posed another major challenge. While projections for 2024 estimated up to 80,000 cases, Cambodia managed to limit infections to about 17,000.
In 2025, however, dengue outbreaks intensified, with 53,000 cases recorded and 64 deaths, representing a fatality rate of 0.7 per cent. The figure, while lower than initial projections, confirmed 2025 as a major outbreak year.
The minister expressed optimism that dengue cases will decline in 2026, citing heightened vigilance from health authorities at all levels and increased public awareness.
Despite gains in controlling infectious diseases, the minister stressed that NCDs now represent one of the most pressing public health threats facing Cambodia.
He called on citizens and relevant institutions to strengthen prevention efforts through healthier lifestyles, regular health check-ups and sustained public health education, in order to reduce preventable deaths and ease pressure on the national healthcare system.
