Prime Minister Hun Manet has ordered stricter inspections of imported vegetables and meat, calling for broader public education on the prevention of cancer, as cancer kills one Cambodian every 40 minutes—or about 38 lives each day.
Speaking at the launch of Cambodia’s National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) 2025–2030, Hun Manet described cancer as a growing threat to public health and a strain on the country’s socio-economic development.
He urged relevant ministries and authorities, including the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the General Department of Customs and Excise, to strengthen public education on cancer prevention and inspect imported vegetables and meat and the use of hazardous chemicals in food to reduce cancer risks. “Capacity in prevention and early detection are key.”
Authorities frequently uncover seafood contaminated with chemicals being sold in local markets, as well as low-quality frozen meat brought “illegally” into the country.
Health Minister Chheang Ra confirmed that around 20,000 cancer cases and 14,000 cancer-related deaths are reported annually. He noted that nearly 75% of cervical cancer patients seek treatment only in the late stages, when the chances of survival are slim.
“The death rate indicates that one person dies of cancer every 40 minutes in Cambodia – around 38 people a day – which leaves families devastated, with orphans, single father, and single mother,” Chheang Ra said.
Meanwhile, Hun Manet said another challenge for Cambodia is the lack of specialist doctors, with the health minister agreeing that Cambodia’s current cancer response is still limited.
“This led to the development of the National Cancer Control Plan 2025-2030,” he said, adding that the plan calls for strengthening primary and secondary prevention, enhancing diagnosis, and investing in essential research.
To address these issues, Hun Manet also announced plans to upgrade Luang Mè Hospital into a national cancer specialty hospital.
Sovann Sreypin, whose relative has suffered from cancer since August 2024, told CamboJA News that just hearing the name of the disease has caused an emotional impact on her family. She described cancer as a devastating illness with little early warning signs—often only detected once it has progressed to the second stage—and that treatment can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
“After experiencing firsthand, I’ve realized how crucial it is to prioritize health and undergo regular checkups—not just for myself, but for my whole family,” she said. “Today, processed foods have a serious effect on our bodies and can easily lead to life-threatening diseases.”
Sreypin said the newly launched National Cancer Control Plan 2025–2030 is a positive step forward, as it can help raise public awareness and empower people to better protect themselves from the disease.
Mom Kong, executive director of the Cambodian Movement for Health, told CamboJA News that cancer is a serious non-communicable disease in the country, with most cases linked to tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and exposure to harmful chemicals.
While he welcomed the National Cancer Control Plan, he said its success depends on effective implementation and adequate financial support to fight the disease that requires high technology and modern medical equipment.
Kong added that cancer continues to place a heavy burden on families and the government. He believes that banning harmful products and increasing taxes on them could play a major role in prevention.
“For the government to have enough resources, it should impose high tax on products known to cause cancer,” he said.
