Cambodia has officially launched the Roadmap towards Global Health Coverage 2024-2035 under the presidency of Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet.
Speaking at the launching ceremony held here this morning, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet underlined that this is an important step in building the Cambodian social protection system, especially in relation to the protection of health and well-being of all people.
“The official launch of this roadmap is a proud and energetic step of Cambodia in the process of building a social health system for all people to receive quality health services,” he said. “We have set our goal to ensure that at least 14 million people can afford the health services in 12 years.”
The Premier laid stress on the importance of the people’s health as human resources are a key driving force for the national development.
Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet added that the quality of health services is important but the Royal Government has to ensure the people’s access to health services with affordable price.
“Health is a leading sector for the royal government’s investment. In 2023, Cambodia invested about US$573 million in this sector,” he stressed.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance H.E. Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth said this roadmap is a guide for health and social protection for the public from 2024 to 2035, by identifying priority policy options to strengthen social health protection system and health system in a multi-sectoral, multidimensional and all-round perspective.
Based on past achievements in both the health and social health care systems, as well as an in-depth analysis of current and future challenges, this roadmap sets out a strategic way towards the global health coverage through the introduction of strategic activities and priorities in a multi-sectoral manner, he said.
Through past investments in the health sector, he pointed out, a number of indicators clearly reflect the progress towards global health coverage, including the increase in the healthcare coverage index from 24 percent in 2000 to 58 percent in 2021; the gradual increase in the life expectancy of the population from 59 years in 2000 to 76 years in 2021; the reduction in the amount of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare from about 70 percent in 2000 to about 60 percent in 2020; and the reduction in maternal and infant mortality rates, from 437 in 2000 to 155 in 2022 per 100,000 live births for maternal mortality rate, and from 37 in 2000 to eight in 2022 out of 1,000 live births for infant mortality rate.
