Phnom Penh: Minister of Health, Professor Chheang Ra, said that the Cambodian health sector is playing a role model both regionally and globally in patient safety (JCI-Patient Safety Pathways), which is based on the results of studies conducted by the international organization that assesses and recognizes healthcare quality.
Professor Chheang Ra made this statement during a bilateral meeting with Dr. Neelam Dhingra, Vice President and Head of Global Patient Safety at Joint Commission International (JCI), the largest healthcare accreditation organization in the United States and the world’s leading standard-setting organization, on May 20, 2026.
The meeting aims to demonstrate the continued expansion of collaboration in the preparation of a global patient safety standard for Cambodia, starting with the participation of national hospitals in reflecting and implementing it, and which will be expanded to all affiliated and community hospitals.
Cambodia has collaborated to implement a regional and global role model on patient safety at the national level and some provinces through a study by the JCI team on 3 model hospitals, which has already incorporated the patient safety criteria of the international standard of JCI into the hospital quality assessment system.
The Minister of Health emphasized the perspective of health that there is no quality if there is no safety, of which “patient safety” is the first foundation For the advancement of quality, efficiency, effectiveness and true equity in healthcare services.
Dr. Neelam Dhingra praised the vision of Cambodian health leadership and the Royal Government of Cambodia, which provided political decisions that fully support patient safety for the Cambodian people and all patients in Cambodia. She said that this is a model for the world and Cambodia must be prepared to share this good practice with the world, as there are many other countries that want to learn from Cambodia’s healthcare experience.
She added that the international accreditation organization JCI will continue to be with Cambodia, continue to support and provide expert advice.
