ក្រសួងសុខាភិបាល

The Ministry of Health of Cambodia (Khmer: ក្រសួងសុខាភិបាល, UNGEGN: Krâsuŏng Sŏkhaphĭbal), established in 1993, is the national governmental body mandated to develop and implement health policy, manage healthcare services, regulate medical professionals, and oversee public health and NGO coordination. Headquartered at 80 Samdech Penn Nouth St., Phnom Penh, and operating through 24 provincial health departments, the Ministry leads Cambodia’s health governance and regulatory framework.

Mandate and Functions

The Ministry is tasked with:

• Policy formulation and strategy implementation for national healthcare and public health.
• Regulation and inspection of hospitals, clinics, and individual healthcare practitioners.
• Management of essential drug distribution, food safety, and communicable disease control.
• Coordination with international bodies, health NGOs, and disease control programs including malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and maternal and child health.

Organizational Structure

Organized under three directorates—Administration & Finance; Health; and Inspection—the Ministry comprises departments such as Health Planning and Information, Hospital Services, Human Resources, Communicable Disease Control, Essential Drugs and Food, and International Cooperation. It oversees affiliated institutions including the University of Health Sciences (UHS), National Malaria Center, National Reproductive Health Program, and numerous national hospitals.

Role in Higher Education

Although primary responsibility for higher education lies with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, the Ministry of Health holds a central role in the training, accreditation, licensing, and professional development of healthcare personnel.

Oversight of Health Professional Training

The Ministry supervises curricula, ensures institutional compliance with standards for medical, nursing, dental, pharmacy, and public health education, and works in partnership with universities—most notably UHS—to align training with national health priorities.

Accreditation Mechanisms

Alongside the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health supports the Accreditation Committee of Cambodia (ACC), established in 2003 under Council of Ministers oversight. The ACC administers institutional and programmatic accreditation—including health and medical education programs—based on five-year full accreditation and three-year provisional reviews.

Licensing and Continuing Professional Development

Global frameworks like the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangements have motivated enhanced registration systems enforced by the Ministry. It mandates entry/exit examinations, implements licensure regulations for doctors, nurses, dentists, and pharmacists, and requires ongoing professional development as a condition for license renewal.

University of Health Sciences (UHS)

The UHS, directly overseen by the Ministry of Health, is Cambodia’s primary institution for higher health education. Founded in 1946 and re-established post-1979, UHS offers undergraduate to doctoral programs in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, midwifery, and public health. It maintains English- and Khmer-medium instruction, selective admissions, and program accreditation via ACC and Ministry oversight.

Quality Standards & International Alignment

The Ministry promotes the integration of ASEAN standards into health education frameworks. It enforces quality assurance protocols to safeguard academic integrity, raise clinical competencies, and streamline professional mobility within the ASEAN region.

Strategic Role in National Development

Through its influence on higher education policy reform—such as aligning with the government’s Rectangular Strategy 2023–2028—and active participation in quality assurance initiatives, the Ministry helps ensure a skilled health workforce, supporting national health goals and socioeconomic development.

Collaborative Accreditation Ecosystem

The Ministry operates within a broader accreditation ecosystem:

• Accreditation Committee of Cambodia (ACC): Assessing and accrediting health-related higher education institutions and programs.
• Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport: Leading general higher education governance, setting sector-wide quality policies.
• Professional Councils: Medical, Dental, Nursing Councils, working with the Ministry on standards, licensure, and continuing education.
• University of Health Sciences: A statutory public institution under the Ministry, serving as the national training hub for health professionals.

Impact on Healthcare Education and Accreditation

By integrating accreditation with licensure and aligning with international benchmarks, the Ministry ensures that health professional training meets rigorous quality standards. This framework enhances workforce capabilities, bolsters public confidence, increases regional recognition of qualifications, and helps maintain healthcare service excellence nationwide.

Conclusion

The Ministry of Health of Cambodia serves not only as the steward of national health policy and service provision but also as a pivotal actor in higher education for healthcare professionals. Through its regulatory, accreditation, and institutional roles, the Ministry ensures that Cambodia's healthcare workforce is appropriately educated, professionally accredited, and aligned with international standards—contributing significantly to the nation's public health, economic growth, and regional integration.

Organization Name

ក្រសួងសុខាភិបាល

Ministry of Health of Cambodia

Acronym

MOH

Year of Establishment

1993

Control Type

Public

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

National

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

151-153 Kampuchea Krom Boulevard
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh Cambodia

Phone

+855 (23) 722 873

Fax

+855 (23) 426 841

n.a.

Official Social Media Channels

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Ministry of Health of Cambodia's Facebook page

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LinkedIn

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Instagram

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Wikipedia Article

Ministry of Health of Cambodia's Wikipedia page

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