Cambodia Advocates AI and Digital Innovation at ASEAN-ROK Health Ministers Meeting

Cambodia's Minister of Health, H.E. Professor Chheang Ra, led a delegation to attend the 3rd ASEAN–Republic of Korea (ROK) Health Ministers Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The meeting was attended by all 11 ASEAN member states, the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, and the Republic of Korea. The theme was "Smarter Data, Better Care: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovations for a Connected ASEAN–Korea Healthcare Ecosystem." H.E. Professor Chheang Ra welcomed the selection of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovations as a priority theme, recognizing them as crucial sectors for all ASEAN countries, with the Republic of Korea being a global leader in this field. He also acknowledged that numerous challenges remain and that progress varies among ASEAN member states. During the meeting, H.E. Professor Chheang Ra presented three key priorities for cooperation with the Republic of Korea that would be highly valued. Firstly, enhancing digital literacy for healthcare professionals and students to leverage the benefits of digital technology and AI, and to promote the secure creation and management of information through these technologies. Secondly, organizing healthcare systems to prepare for the use of AI at healthcare facilities. Data should support the entire healthcare system, not just be retained by the originating institution, requiring national-level data management covering the full lifecycle from creation to integration, connectivity, and utilization. Thirdly, ensuring that data can transform patient medical histories into understandable and usable information across the entire healthcare system, including different healthcare institutions. At the occasion, the ASEAN–ROK Health Ministers adopted a Joint Statement, affirming their commitment to continue enhancing the resilience of ASEAN health development in a new context. This focus is on digital transformation in healthcare, implementing new activities and projects in the health sector through promoting capacity-building programs, supporting the development and implementation of ASEAN-specific health information plans, and creating strategies for digital health modernization. Source: CPP Cambodia