Investment Consultation on Health Infrastructure Readiness for COVID19 Response [Virtual]

[Check Against Delivery] 

H.E Dr. Hok Kim Cheng, Director General for Health

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It’s a pleasure to welcome you to discuss strategic direction for the health infrastructure investment.

The context for this consultation remains a world upended by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Echoing the UN Secretary General: the choices we make — or fail to make today – could result, in further breakdown and a future of perpetual crises, or a breakthrough to a better, more sustainable future for people and for the planet. 

Investment in health - be it infrastructure, quality of services, or coverage - is key to support the Cambodian people recover from the pandemic and vital for the realization of many human rights.

Cambodia’s health sector has and is making considerable efforts in facing COVID-19 related issues and risks with guaranteeing access to health services.

Based on the Cambodia Response Plan, the rapid hospital assessment which we will discuss today, was undertaken to measure the health infrastructure preparedness for Cambodia’s COVID-19 response.

• It is about considering COVID-19 as an “opportunity” to strengthen the health system in proposing strategic actions in upgrading the health infrastructure.
• It is about going beyond the procurement activities and equipping the health facilities by considering the entire health infrastructure as a system and its investment gaps.
• It is about better understanding the health care system readiness and preparedness (including isolation capacities, PPEs availability, O2 capacity, etc.), suitability and capacities of existing health facilities.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

COVID-19 has had wide-ranging health and socioeconomic impacts on all parts of society, with vulnerable populations disproportionately affected.

I appreciate the tireless efforts of the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Ministry of Health for the ongoing response and strong collaboration with partners to suppress the transmission of COVID-19 and Cambodia's success in achieving remarkably high vaccination coverage.

Yet, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is circulating everywhere, even with high vaccination coverage, outbreaks and new variants can occur, and they can produce surges.

Surges threaten the “Red Line”— the conceptual threshold at which patient care needs exceed the healthcare system capacity to provide optimal care.

The hard work and investment for COVID-19 will provide a foundation and opportunity for long-lasting improvements in the Cambodian health system.

How can we work together to address the gaps and needs for further investment in health facilities? The rapid assessment gives the Government clear guidance to move towards an investment plan in health infrastructure.

• Support the Ministry of Health to identify and prioritize interventions to appropriately utilize the proposed medical equipment and accommodate the change in service delivery to address COVID needs.
• Advocate for longer term hospital service improvements through policy and strategic recommendations for subsequent investments.
• Identify critical health facilities and capacities to strengthen preparedness of the health system with proper risks management to ensure that the economic reopening will be a success.
• Reinforce MOH efforts to engage the community; strengthen the role of health centers as primary care for a defined package of services and gate keeper; and role of hospitals in providing complementary services with people-center care is core of business.

The United Nations family stands ready to support the RGC in improving health facilities as the country is reopening as well as responding to possible future waves of the pandemic.

While development partners are catalyst to enhance health facilities across Cambodia, Government investment remains the most sustainable way forward.

The investment in a long-term preparedness plan will ensure a resilient health system to respond to COVID-19 without exceeding capacity as well as to prepare for future public health emergencies.

I thank you.