PHNOM PENH, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank has approved 13 million U.S. dollars in additional financing to enhance the quality of health services in Cambodia through improved training for health professionals, said its news release on Thursday.
The funds will support Cambodia's Strengthening Pre-Service Education System for Health Professionals Project, bringing the total project investment to 34.5 million dollars, the news release said.
"The additional financing will accelerate the country's transition to competency-based education for health professionals and help close the gap between medical knowledge and clinical practice -- a critical step toward building a stronger, more competent health workforce," it said.
While health service delivery has been expanding in the Southeast Asian country, access to and quality of care still face significant challenges.
"This project addresses these challenges by reforming how health professionals are trained -- moving away from rote, content-based instruction toward a model that emphasizes practical skills and real-world clinical competency," the news release said.
Since 2020, the project has demonstrated strong results, bringing in 11 national competency-based curricula, training 85 percent of health faculty members, equipping skills laboratories and computer-based examination facilities, and standardizing 50 clinical practice sites.
The additional financing will expand physical infrastructure at key health training institutions -- including new construction and renovation at the Battambang Regional Training Center and the University of Health Sciences, equipping facilities with modern simulation equipment and accelerating the adoption of digital education systems.
The project's lifespan has been extended to mid-2029.
"Cambodia has made important progress in strengthening the training of its health professionals, and this additional financing will help continue that effort," said Tania Meyer, World Bank country manager for Cambodia.
"A well-educated, competency-based health workforce is key to improving service delivery and strengthening the health system so it can better serve every Cambodian, in every corner of the country," she added. ■
