Cambodia Lags Behind ASEAN Neighbours in Healthcare Ranking

MoEYS

Cambodia has ranked below most of its ASEAN neighbours in the latest Numbeo Healthcare Index, scoring just 50.7 out of 100, sparking renewed calls for investment and reform in the Kingdom’s health sector.

The 2025 index, released this week, places Cambodia well behind regional leaders such as Thailand (77.5), Singapore (71.8), and Malaysia (70.3). Even the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia posted stronger scores, highlighting the scale of the gap Cambodia must close.

While Cambodia was praised for the friendliness of its healthcare staff and the convenience of clinic locations, it fell short in several critical areas. These included the competency of medical professionals, availability of modern diagnostic equipment, efficiency of treatment, and excessive waiting times.

Healthcare consultant B Verghese, formerly with the World Health Organisation in Cambodia, said the country’s rural-urban divide remains a major barrier to progress. “The health infrastructure in rural areas is severely lacking. Bridging that divide will require serious public and private investment,” he told Khmer Times.

Professor Tan Kimmeng, a senior healthcare figure and member of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, added that infrastructure alone isn’t enough. “Cambodia must also launch strong public health campaigns to combat rising lifestyle diseases like diabetes and kidney failure, particularly among young people.”

Despite its low regional ranking, experts noted some encouraging signs. A World Bank public sector specialist pointed to gains driven by the private sector, including rising life expectancy and lower infant mortality.

However, these improvements are yet to translate into a healthcare system that rivals the Kingdom’s neighbours. As Taiwan takes the global top spot for the seventh straight year with a score of 86.5, Cambodia’s performance highlights the urgent need for comprehensive health reforms.

With demand for quality care rising and non-communicable diseases on the rise, the pressure is mounting. For Cambodia, boosting healthcare could be key not only to improving lives—but to catching up with the rest of the region.

-2025-05-01