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Cambodia’s health system is entering the digital age, with private companies supporting the surge in online medical services, but the absence of clear regulation has raised concerns about safety, data protection and accountability of patients. A new EuroCham White Paper is calling for a legal framework to govern digital health platforms, safeguard patient trust, and encourage innovation.
EuroCham Healthcare Forum and Innovation Exhibition, Sor Samnangvathana, co-chairperson representing practitioners, told reporters on Tuesday that digital health developments in Cambodia have outpaced existing laws and institutions, creating significant regulatory gaps.
The White Paper on Governing Digital Health Platforms in Cambodia highlights the risks of unclear classification of digital health platforms — whether as healthcare facilities, ICT providers, or e-commerce platforms. While these platforms have the potential to improve service delivery and reduce costs, the lack of regulation could compromise safety and accountability.
The paper recommends establishing a National Digital Health Coordination Committee (NDHCC) and a Digital Health Taskforce to ensure alignment across ministries, councils, and the private sector.
It also proposed adaptive legal tools such as regulatory sandboxes, risk-based platform licensing, integration into national financing schemes like the Health Equity Fund and the National Social Security Fund, and the use of de-identified, real-time data to support public health monitoring, disease surveillance, and One Health planning.
Elias Engelking, co-chairperson of the chamber’s healthcare committee, said the time is right for Cambodia to lead the policy discussion on digital health. He noted that as the world undergoes rapid digital transformation and Cambodia moves toward upper middle-income status by 2030, development financing is shifting from traditional aid to investment. Building a strong and resilient digital health system will require close cooperation between the government, private sector, and international partners.
Engelking emphasized the importance of trust and collaboration in digital health.
“Digital health platforms can connect patients, hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories, and insurers in one trusted system,” he said. “This is not a technology fair. It’s a conversation on governance, partnerships, and trust, supported by real examples and an innovation exhibition on the same floor.”
“The aim is simple: build trust between public and private actors and support universal health coverage, ensuring every citizen in Cambodia can access quality health care,” he added.
Koy Vanny, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, and Liv Sophanarith, spokesperson for the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, did not respond to questions about the ministries’ take on EuroCham’s recommendation at the time of publication.
More than 125 countries, including Cambodia, have developed strategies and policies for digital health, the Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry has previously said.
According to the White Paper, Cambodia has advanced in digital health through strategies like the Digital Health Strategy 2024–2035, HealthTech Roadmap 2022, and Health Strategic Plan 2025–2034, focusing on telemedicine, interoperable systems, and AI tools for Universal Health Coverage.
However, it added, although the Health Ministry’s new Digital Health Department shows institutional commitment, gaps remain, including fragmented systems, unequal access, low digital literacy.
