AKP Phnom Penh, January 28, 2026 --

Minister of Health, H.E. Professor Chheang Ra, emphasised the critical role of leadership in public health during the launch of a new national eye health initiative on Wednesday, noting that effective management is essential for achieving universal health coverage.

Speaking at a Launching Ceremony of “Vision Initiative” and Annual Reflection Workshop on Eye Health held at the Cambodiana Hotel, the Minister highlighted that nearly 90 percent of blindness in Cambodia is preventable or treatable if patients receive timely, high-quality care. 

The new project aligns with the first phase of the Royal Government’s "Pentagonal Strategy," aimed at strengthening the Kingdom's healthcare infrastructure.

"Leadership is the cornerstone of public health units serving our citizens," Professor Chheang Ra stated, urging health officials to use the eye health programme as a blueprint for operational excellence across all medical departments.

To streamline the national response to vision impairment, the Minister issued a seven-point directive to healthcare stakeholders:

1-Leadership at all levels must adopt best practices from the eye health programme for daily operations.

 2-Programmes must deliver tangible benefits to rural communities and local health centres.

3-Health centres and provincial hospitals are to establish robust consultation networks to ensure patients requiring surgery are efficiently referred to specialised facilities.

4-District and provincial hospitals must simplify quality assessments and implement standardised training, particularly in specialised areas like oral health.

5-Eye care providers must coordinate closely with non-communicable disease (NCD) programmes, specifically targeting diabetic patients who face high risks of vision loss.

6-The Ministry called for a careful evaluation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in eye diagnostics to ensure clinical accuracy and prevent public misinformation.

7-Health officials were encouraged to integrate vision screening into school programmes and foundations to support students, particularly those from low-income families.

The Minister concluded by commending the National Programme for Eye Health and the Fred Hollows Foundation for their ongoing collaboration. He specifically noted the successful mobilisation of additional funding from the Bloomberg Foundation for a two-year mission to reduce avoidable blindness in Cambodia.

The event was attended by 120 delegates, including senior officials from the Ministries of Women's Affairs; Education, Youth and Sports; Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, alongside international development partners.

By K. Rithy Reak