Cambodia's Women Leaders Ascend, Healthcare Sector Evolves

Oknha Dr. Carolyne Pung, Vice Chairperson of Cambodia's Canadia Group and Chief Executive Officer of Intercare Hospital, discussed the rise of women in leadership and the development of the nation's healthcare sector in an interview with Cambodia Leadership Review (CLR). Pung reflected on her career, stating she has grown alongside Cambodia's development since joining Canadia Group about twenty years ago. "When I joined Canadia Group about twenty years ago, the country was a very different place. I can say, I have been fortunate to grow with Cambodia’s development," she remarked. Today, many women hold senior leadership positions across the group's diverse divisions, including insurance, retail, education, real estate, blockchain ventures, and property management. "Women CEOs lead our insurance division, our malls, our retail, our schools, our real estate sales, our human resources, our blockchain ventures, and several of our property management divisions," Pung noted. The group also prioritizes gender equity in compensation and benefits, ensuring equal opportunities for all employees. Pung is convinced that many more talented women will assume greater responsibilities in the coming years. In the healthcare sector, through Intercare Hospital, she is supporting the growth of Cambodia's private healthcare industry. Established during the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital now employs over 200 medical professionals from various countries, including Cambodia, the US, Australia, Russia, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Singapore, the UK, and the Philippines. Partners like Sunway Healthcare Group, ThinkKids, and Livingstone have helped raise the bar for the local medical and healthcare industry. Pung identified fostering trust in domestic quality healthcare services as the primary challenge. "The critical success factor is trust in local capability, competency and accuracy. And trust is earned one consultation, one honest diagnosis, one follow-up call at a time. We have built it slowly, improving constantly with our patients’ feedback," she explained. The hospital aims to deepen specialized care and ensure continuity of treatment, ultimately making local healthcare the "obvious choice" rather than a "leap of faith" through telemedicine and digital records. "We are expanding what we can treat here, with specialists in cardiology, pneumology, psychiatry for mental health and more, so fewer families feel they have to leave the country for anything beyond the basics, and using digital records and telemedicine follow-up so that care doesn’t stop at the hospital door," Pung stated. Regarding women's health, she emphasized the importance of preventive care and early detection. "Often, we notice that women are waiting until a symptom is impossible to ignore, until the kids are settled, until it’s convenient for everyone but themselves. Changing that timing, getting women into a screening room a year or two earlier, probably saves more lives than almost any single piece of new equipment we could buy," she said. The group conducts awareness campaigns and health workshops, particularly in Phnom Penh, focusing on early screening for conditions like breast cancer. Future plans include expanding screening services to provincial areas via mobile clinics to address healthcare disparities. "The next step we are pushing for is taking screening outside the capital, with mobile clinics reaching Kampong Cham, Battambang and Siem Reap, where the nearest specialist can be hours away. Closing that distance is where I believe the next real gains will come," Pung added. Discussing her leadership approach within OCIC Group, which spearheads Cambodia's urban and economic transformation across infrastructure, education, real estate, and healthcare, Pung explained her strategy of balancing long-term national development with day-to-day project management. "OCIC has always taken the long-term approach. By building infrastructure, bridges, schools and hospitals, we want to create opportunities for our customers. This improves daily life and contributes to the growth of their businesses and their families," she stated. She finds fulfillment in staying connected with the end-users of their projects—patients at Intercare, families crossing to Chroy Changvar Bay, students earning their International Baccalaureate at CIS. "What I find most rewarding today is watching that patience turn into real opportunities, for families and for local and foreign investors," Pung said. She expressed particular hope that Cambodian students educated abroad will return to shape the country's future. "We are proud to contribute to developing world-class Cambodian students, and we hope they will return with their overseas experience to help shape the future of Cambodia."