Cambodia
[Remarks as Prepared]
- Your Excellency Or Vandine, Secretary of State, MOH
- H.E Dr. Pok Vannthat, Director of Medical Committee, National Social Security Fund
- H.E Dr. Hoy Sereivathanak, Deputy Director General, MOH
- Dr. Koy Virya, Deputy Director of Department of Hospital Services,
- Ms. Lisa Dolan-Branton, Chief of Party, USAID EQHA
- Distinguished guests, representatives of provincial health departments, private sectors and partners
Chum reap sour!
It is my pleasure to join today as we launch the minimum licensing standards for private healthcare facilities in Cambodia. Healthcare facility licensure, based on well defined standards, is a key regulatory function of the health system. License standards protect citizens against unsafe structures and practices. With these standards, we can be sure that healthcare facilities have the correct equipment and supplies to provide services, and that qualified healthcare professionals deliver them. The licensing process ensures that facilities have met the minimum Ministry of Health standards.
As you know, these standards were developed with broad stakeholder inputs through the MOH technical working group, with support from the USAID Enhancing Quality of Healthcare Activity, or EQHA. EQHA is USAID’s flagship health systems strengthening project that works across the health system to improve the quality of public and private health service delivery.
As we move forward, USAID welcomes the opportunity to deliver technical support to the Department of Hospital Services, and inspection teams at national and subnational levels to implement these licensing standards. We hope our assistance through EQHA will improve the quality of private health services in Cambodia in the near future. And we appreciate the opportunity to help Cambodia achieve universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goal targets.
Congratulations to the MOH Technical Working Group under the leadership of Excellencies Dr. Vandine and Dr. Ngov Kang for their successful development of the Minimum Licensing Standards. We also thank the Minister for endorsing the standards we are launching today. Approved by the MOH in December, these standards will now help guarantee quality in the Cambodian health system.
Finally, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Your Excellencies for your leadership and support to USAID and our implementing partners in the implementation of health project activities in Cambodia. MOH leadership and commitment has led to improved quality and safety of health services to all Cambodians.
Thank you!