Health minister Chheang Ra (left) holds talks with German ambassador Stefan Messerer on October 30. HEALTH MINISTRY
German ambassador Stefan Messerer confirmed that his nation would continue its support to the Ministry of Health by bolstering its capacity and advancing its healthcare infrastructure.
He made the statement during an October 30 meeting with health minister Chheang Ra, as reported by the ministry’s official social media channel.
Messerer highlighted the health collaboration between the two countries, which commenced in 1996. He noted it has encompassed projects such as infrastructure development, training facilities and the establishment of the National Institute of Public Health.
He said the partnership has also seen human resource training in health management at the sub-national level and the initiation of a Master’s Programme in Public Health.
“Germany remains committed to aiding the ministry in fortifying the health system. This includes capacity building, healthcare infrastructure development and the enhancement of primary healthcare services,” he stated.
Ra expressed gratitude towards Germany for their sustained support for the health sector via technical assistance from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and funding from the German Development Bank (KfW) Financial Cooperation programme.
“I extend my thanks to the people and government of Germany, particularly the embassy, for their unwavering backing of our health priorities. I am optimistic about broadening the scope of… bilateral ties in healthcare, which will significantly benefit our ministry,” he said.
He emphasised that Germany’s contributions aim to elevate the well-being of the Cambodian people in line with the government’s Pentagonal Strategy, ultimately leading to global health coverage.
Nuth Sambath, president of the Institute of Medicine, Biology and Agriculture of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, praised the enduring collaboration.
He said continued German assistance is crucial, especially now with several major hospitals being constructed.
“The emphasis on human resources, infrastructure, medical ethics and further research is paramount. I urge relevant entities to prioritise doctors’ well-being, which will subsequently uplift Cambodia’s health sector,” he added.
According to the ministry, Germany has backed multiple initiatives in the country to date, such as the government’s social health protection project, the implementation of decentralised health services and the Improving the Social Protection and Health Project (ISPH) that started in 2021 and is slated for completion in September 2024.
The One Health 4 Cambodia (OH4CAM) project also offers technical guidance in crafting standard policies for pre-service health professional education.
As outlined by the National Social Protection Council, the government has allocated approximately $83 million (340.4 billion riel) for the sector in 2024, aiming to widen healthcare services to achieve global health coverage.
