Cambodia’s Minister of Health, Professor Chheang Ra, met with Ms. Mariam Sherman, the World Bank’s representative for Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Their goal was simple: to make health services better and faster, and to work towards making sure everyone in Cambodia has access to great healthcare (this is called Universal Health Coverage, or UHC).

Minister Chheang Ra welcomed Ms. Sherman and said a big thank you to the World Bank. He acknowledged that their ongoing technical advice and financial help have been essential for improving the lives of Cambodian people.

He gave special recognition to the World Bank’s support on several key projects, including:

• Cambodian Nutrition Project (CNP): Helping to improve nutrition across the country.
• Education for Health Professionals: Strengthening the training system for new doctors, nurses, and other health staff.
• Health Equity and Quality Improvement Project Phase II (H-EQIP II): Working to make health services higher quality and fairer for all.
• COVID-19 Emergency Response Project: Assisting with the nation’s response to the pandemic.

World Bank Commits to Future Support

Ms. Sherman confirmed that the World Bank is fully committed to helping Cambodia’s health sector long-term. She pointed out that the Bank’s help in recent years has been crucial in moving the nation closer to achieving UHC. Ms. Sherman also praised the Cambodian government for its strong dedication to improving public health and noted the excellent, long-standing relationship between the Ministry and the Bank.

Their conversation focused on the Ministry’s main goals and figuring out the best ways to continue working with partners like the World Bank. A key part of the discussion involved looking at how current projects—like the Nutrition Project, the health education efforts, and H-EQIP II—are doing, what challenges they face, and how to solve them.

Focusing on Success

To finish the meeting, Minister Chheang Ra thanked the World Bank again for their continuous effort. He asked the Bank’s experts and technical staff to keep working closely and effectively with the teams managing the projects.

He emphasized that successfully carrying out these projects is vital for the Ministry’s overall Health Strategy Plan and the government’s bigger Pentagonal Strategy. Both of these plans share the same ultimate goal: to provide universal access to high-quality healthcare for every single citizen in Cambodia.