Cuba providing training in Cambodian hospitals

The government of Cuba, through its ambassador to Cambodia, has agreed to provide training in the treatment of cancer, diabetes and other diseases at hospitals in Cambodia.

This initiative aims to improve the well-being of the Cambodian people and contribute to achieving global health coverage by 2035 in alignment with the Pentagonal Strategy – Phase I.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Minister of Health Chheang Ra and Ambassador Milena Caridad Zaldivar Piedra at the Ministry of Health in Phnom Penh on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Ra expressed appreciation for Cuba’s ongoing support and contributions to improving health services in Cambodia. Since 1979, when Cambodia was emerging from the dark period of the Khmer Rouge regime, Cuba has sent volunteer doctors to provide care and treatment and trained Cambodian doctors and medical students while offering scholarships to develop human resources in the health sector.

Ra also expressed his pleasure at being invited to attend the annual health conference in Cuba scheduled for 2025 by the Cuban Ministry of Public Health.

He requested that the Cuban government continues to strengthen its cooperation with the Cambodian Health Ministry and reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to improving the well-being of its people and achieving comprehensive health coverage by 2035 in line with the Pentagonal Strategy – Phase I.

Ambassador Zaldivar Piedra reaffirmed the Cuban government’s commitment to continuing cooperation with Cambodia’s Health Ministry, including the provision of scholarships for general practitioners and medical specialists, facilitating study visits by Cambodian delegates to learn and exchange knowledge on primary health care and offering further training in cancer treatment in Cuba for 10 Cambodian doctors.

Both countries reiterated their commitment to ongoing cooperation between their Health Ministries, including sending doctors to treat cancer, diabetes and other conditions in Cambodian hospitals.

They also agreed to promote pharmaceutical businesses, including vaccines and medical equipment, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Additionally, they agreed to advance the import of medicines for diabetic ulcers and other areas of cooperation as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding between the ministries in 2022.

Dr Quach Mengly, a public health expert, noted that Cambodia’s health sector has significantly improved over the past decade. While it was once limited and weak, it now benefits from strengthened and expanded cooperation with development partners and stakeholders.

He highlighted improvements in the capacity, knowledge, skills and experience of doctors, as well as advancements in infrastructure, equipment and treatment facilities in some hospitals.

Despite these improvements, Dr Mengly emphasized the need for continued support from both regional and international partners to further develop and enhance Cambodia’s health sector, ensuring continued growth, progress, quality and efficiency.