The value of medicine and medical equipment imports increased about five per cent year-on-year in 2011, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The Kingdom imported US$124.3 million in medicine and medical equipment, up from $118 million in 2010.

“The medicine manufacturing sector in Cambodia is growing from year to year, but imports are also on the rise.

The free market needs competition on quality and price. Imports cannot be avoided,” Health Minister Mam Bunheng said.

Cambodia’s medical imports largely come from India, South Korea, Pakistan, Thailand, Australia and Japan.

Sien Sindy, the president of Ratanak Ratana Pharma-ceutical Co Ltd, whose imports grew about 20 per cent year-on-year in 2011, noted a great increase in the variety of medicine demanded by Cambodian hospitals.