Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 10 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet made eight key recommendations to the Ministry of Health, the University of Health Sciences, and public and private health training institutes to help improve the health sector in Cambodia. His focus was on enhancing the quality of care, patient treatment, and ensuring high standards of efficiency, ethics, and professionalism.
The premier spoke on Tuesday (Dec. 10) during a groundbreaking for the University of Health Sciences Hospital in Phnom Penh.
On this occasion, Samdech Thipadei expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the efforts of the Ministry of Health, hospitals, referral hospitals, health centres, and their staff. He also praised the dedication of health officials who worked tirelessly, especially during the battle against COVID19, and their participation in the COVID19 vaccination campaign to protect all Cambodians.
In recognition of the significant achievements in the health sector, Samdech Thipadei provided additional perspectives and recommendations to the Ministry of Health, the University of Health Sciences, and public and private health training institutions as follows:
1. The Ministry of Health and the private healthcare sector must continue to reform the education system by consistently developing and updating the curriculum. This should focus on core competencies while giving more emphasis to both technical and soft skills. Key areas of improvement should include teamwork, discipline, and professional ethics, especially when serving citizens in public and private health facilities.
2. The Ministry of Health must continue to strengthen the curriculum and encourage students and health professionals to consistently develop their knowledge through self-study, research, and continuing education. This will contribute to the development of skilled and productive human resources. Additionally, efforts should be made to build digital citizens in Cambodia to fully leverage the benefits of the digital revolution, which will support the creation of a new growth model in Cambodia based on technological skills and innovation.
3. The Ministry of Health must continue to enhance mechanisms for monitoring and improving the quality of services at all levels of healthcare facilities. This includes tracking patient or client satisfaction trends, organising regular quality improvement activities including clinical governance, and implementing innovative digital technologies to raise the quality of service to a level that meets patient and public expectations. It is also essential to improve responsiveness and accountability in providing high-quality healthcare services, maintaining public trust through mechanisms that receive feedback or address patient complaints in a timely and professional manner.
4. University management and professors must continue to play a leading role as guides, advisors, researchers, and innovators. They should strive to consistently improve their skills in knowledge, teaching methods, and the use of information technology. Professors and academic staff must be encouraged to develop their capacity and increase research in their respective fields to improve teaching efficiency, link theory to practice, and contribute to the development of human capital in Cambodia's health sector.
5. All health professional committees must focus more on the implementation of the law, particularly the law governing health professionals, as well as the relevant legal documents. They should review, revise, or create new legal documents that align with the current state of society and digitalisation. Each health professional committee must update the information of individuals working in Cambodia within their respective health professions. This includes promoting the registration of health professionals, as well as facilitating the request and renewal of licenses and encouraging continued professional development. The committees should also regularly plan and inspect the fitness of the health profession and monitor professional trends, responding promptly and effectively.
6. All health professionals must be registered with the Health Professions Council and hold a valid professional license. They must adhere to professional ethics, standards, and practice within the scope of their qualifications. Additionally, they should participate in regular capacity development programs. Physicians and technical staff in both the public and private sectors should focus more on preventive and primary care services to prevent the progression of diseases into serious or chronic conditions that place high costs on patients, their families, health systems, and social protection systems. Health professionals should also foster trusting relationships with patients and their families through ethical behaviour and encourage patient participation in decision-making regarding treatment, education, and prevention.
7. Doctors and health workers must uphold their honour and dignity by consistently adhering to professional ethics in providing healthcare services. They must demonstrate honesty, integrity, and equity, ensuring that no patient is discriminated against or denied medical care based on individual circumstances, family status, religious beliefs, or political affiliation.
8. Health units at all levels must improve the effectiveness of healthcare services for poor and vulnerable families and other target groups under the Equity Fund and National Social Security Fund. This can be achieved through the expansion of healthcare services, addressing the changing trends in disease burden and health problems, and prioritising the needs of the people.
=FRESH NEWS
