Health Workforce Development to Advance Universal Health Coverage in Cambodia

Overview & Synopsis

Cambodia has made substantial progress in improving population health outcomes over the past two decades, including increased life expectancy and major reductions in maternal and child mortality. Despite these achievements, important challenges remain. Significant disparities persist across socioeconomic and geographic groups, with rural, poor, and marginalized populations experiencing worse health outcomes. Moreover, while health service delivery has expanded, access to quality care remains uneven, and financial protection is limited, with high out-of-pocket expenditures. A key constraint to further progress is the shortage and uneven distribution of a competent health workforce. Many public health facilities are understaffed, and skills gaps and deficiencies in training systems affect service quality. These challenges highlight the need for targeted investments in workforce development, particularly in strengthening primary healthcare (PHC) capacity. The introduction situates the study within Cambodia’s national policy framework, including the Health Strategic Plan 2025–2034 and the Health Workforce Development Plan, which prioritize workforce planning, education quality, governance, and equitable distribution. Strengthening the PHC workforce is identified as essential for improving access, promoting preventive care, managing chronic conditions, and enhancing health system efficiency and equity.