Senior Minister Ieng Mouly Meets with a Consultant from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
On Wednesday morning of February 9, 2022, from 9.00 a.m., at the National AIDS Authority, Senior Minister Ieng Mouly, Chair of the NAA met with Dr Thomas Teucher, Consultant from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, SDC. Joining this meeting were H.E. Dr. Tia Phall, Vice-Chair of NAA in charge of Technical Issues, H.E. Chhim Khindareth, Secretary General of NAA, H.E. Dr. Sut Thangphan, Director of Senior Minister’s cabinet, H.E. Dr. Sorn Piseth, Advisor and Director of Administration and Finance department and Dr. Thin Kouland (accompanied Dr. Teucher).
The meeting took place with the request from Dr. Teucher after he was assigned by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation to undertake a review of SDC’s support towards the functioning of the Kantha Bopha hospitals in Cambodia. His assignment is to develop a new investment case that will secure new SDC financing for the next 5 to 10 years. As Senior Minister Ieng Mouly has engaged in global health financing in support of country systems, Dr. Teucher has requested for a meeting this morning to exchange views regarding future financing for public private partnerships such as the Kantha Bopha hospital group.
To start the meeting, the Senior Minister expressed his gratitude to the Swiss government for its continued support, especially Kuntha Bopha hospital. Dr. Richner who led Kuntha Bopha hospital to become one of the best hospitals in Cambodia was a great personality, the Senior Minister mentioned. Losing Dr. Richner was the loss of a very important person for Cambodian people. During the last few years, the Royal Government of Cambodia has taken crucial role in sustaining the hospital by providing financial support from the national budget, mobilizing resources from private sector and the public and giving official status to the staff of Kuntha Bopha hospital, the Senior Minister added.
Cambodia has spent more than 2.5 billion US dollars to fight COVID-19. If the money was not spent on COVID, we can contribute more. So, we still need assistance from development partners, the Senior Minister highlighted.
To conclude the meeting, Dr Teucher asked the Senior Minister about the big picture in Cambodia such as investment case, health service improvement and national health insurance. Responding to these questions, the Senior Minister raised the issue of strengthening civil society. It is crucial that the civil society need external support, the Senior Minister added. For health service improvement, we have made substantial progress. What we need is the participation from different parts of the society. We also need to further strengthen health system and improve information system. Concerning the national health insurance, Cambodia has National Social Security Fund and National Social Protection Council who are playing an important role, the Senior Minister stressed.
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