Cambodian Health Minister Proposes Strengthening Regional Health Systems at ASEAN-WHO Meeting

Dr. Chheang Ra, Minister of Health of Cambodia, attended an informal meeting between ASEAN Health Ministers and representatives from the World Health Organization's (WHO) Regional Office for Southeast Asia (SEARO) and the Western Pacific Region (WPRO) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the afternoon of September 10, 2026. The meeting was held under the theme "Healthy ASEAN: Together Towards Equitable, Future-Ready Health Systems." This meeting was facilitated and led by the Minister of Health of Malaysia, Chair of the 17th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting, with the participation of Health Ministers from ASEAN member states and regional directors from WHO SEARO and WPRO. Dr. Chheang Ra delivered an intervention on the theme "Creating Synergies: Setting shared regional priorities to further enhance health systems." He highlighted three key priorities to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and the WHO: First, regarding Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), continue to strengthen achievements in universal health coverage and emergency response, focus on combating NCDs, and share experiences in prevention and early intervention. Second, enhance the efficiency of existing mechanisms, avoid establishing new ones, transform cooperation into measurable and sustainable goals, and mobilize sustainable financing. Third, link inter-sectoral collaboration and the ASEAN-UN framework, strengthen regional health structures (Regional Action Plan for Health Security), and increase cross-sectoral cooperation (environment, disaster, social protection) using the "One Health" approach. Concurrently, Dr. Chheang Ra emphasized that ASEAN and the WHO must work more closely on health priorities, transforming commitments into measurable actions. This will enable the building of resilient, equitable, and future-ready health systems. Source: AKP Khmer