Kandal (FN), Mar. 13 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that the Royal Government is increasing budget for purchasing essential medicines, including those for high blood pressure and diabetes. This initiative aims to alleviate the burden on patients who require daily medication.

The premier spoke on Wednesday (Mar. 13) during an inauguration ceremony of Techo Sen Koh Thom Hospital, Kandal Province.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet underlined that the recent directive given to the Ministry of Health is to ensure that the procurement of medicines and medical equipment for local health centres meets high standards. These standards include ensuring that medicines are not expired and that the equipment is of high quality, as they are crucial for saving the lives of Cambodians.

Samdech Thipadei added that efforts to decentralise healthcare include increasing the presence of doctors at local health centres. However, he acknowledged that there are still some remote communes lacking sufficient medical personnel. The government is actively working to address these gaps while prioritising the quality of healthcare over mere expansion. Recruitment of health officials is conducted through competitive processes, complemented by capacity building and incentives.

Premier Hun Manet underscored, "Currently, we are allocating additional funds to procure medicines needed for conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. Initially, we could provide medications for up to five days or a week, but now we are increasing the budget to ensure that patients have a continuous supply, as these medications are essential for long-term treatment."

At the same time, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet underlined that providing medications for above conditions aims to minimise the need for patients to frequently travel long distances to hospitals. Some patients reside far from facilities where these medications are readily available for daily use.

Samdech Thipadei added that it is crucial to strengthen targeted efforts, and ensure that medicines and medical equipment are of good quality and readily accessible to the people. No citizen should be left behind, as everyone contributes to the strength of the nation.

At this point, Samdech Thipadei further added that merely having modern medical equipment is insufficient if healthcare professionals lack the necessary skills to utilise it effectively.
=FRESH NEWS