AKP Phnom Penh, October 7, 2026 --

Cambodia’s health sector has reached a major milestone with the successful completion of the country’s first-ever kidney transplant, celebrated at an official ceremony held at the Embassy of France in Phnom Penh on Oct. 6.

The achievement resulted from close cooperation between Cambodia’s Ministry of Health, the French Embassy in Cambodia and the Hospices Civils de Lyon.

Speaking at the event, Cambodian Minister of Health H.E. Prof. Chheang Ra expressed his profound gratitude to the French Government and the Lyon medical teams for their valuable partnership.

“The cooperation sought by Cambodia is a long-term partnership, rather than a one-off transfer of technology, with the aim of strengthening the capacities and autonomy of Cambodian medical teams,” said the Minister.

Launched in 2019, the strategic kidney transplantation project was temporarily suspended due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The initiative resumed strongly at the end of 2025, notably with the dispatch of a Cambodian medical team to Lyon for advanced training and an in-depth exchange of expertise and experience.

This rigorous approach has enabled Cambodian medical practitioners to perform these complex procedures in full compliance with strict international standards.

For Cambodia, the introduction of kidney transplantation responds to a critical public health need, particularly for patients suffering from end-stage kidney disease.

To ensure the sustainability and safety of this highly specialised medical service, the Ministry of Health is fully committed to overseeing the programme based on three fundamental pillars: a rigorous legal framework ensuring strict compliance with professional ethics; continuous training to strengthen the skills of healthcare personnel; and close patient monitoring to guarantee the highest standards of quality and safety in medical services.

By Nch