PHNOM PENH — Cambodian Senate First Vice-President Ouch Borith has urged lawmakers across the Asia-Pacific to strengthen cooperation and accelerate efforts to achieve universal health coverage, as countries confront the effects of climate change and rapid advances in artificial intelligence.
Borith made the call as Cambodia hosts the ninth Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health in Phnom Penh from Aug. 11 to 13. The forum, hosted by Cambodia’s National Assembly with support from the World Health Organization, is focused on how parliamentarians can advance universal health coverage while adapting health systems to climate and technological pressures.
The meeting brings together parliamentarians to exchange experiences on health legislation, financing and governance, with particular attention to building climate-resilient health systems and considering the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, according to the WHO.
The forum aims to identify practical actions lawmakers can take individually and collectively to expand access to people-centred primary healthcare and universal health coverage across the region, the WHO said.
Universal health coverage means ensuring that people can obtain the health services they need without suffering financial hardship. The WHO says progress toward the goal has slowed since 2015, with about 4.6 billion people worldwide not fully covered by essential health services in 2023. It also estimates that 2.1 billion people experienced financial hardship from healthcare costs in 2022.
Cambodian officials have positioned the forum as an opportunity to share the country’s experience and discuss regional policy responses. In July, National Assembly Permanent Deputy Secretary-General Keo Piseth said preparations for the meeting included discussions with WHO officials on its programme, participating delegations and a draft Phnom Penh Communiqué expected to be adopted at the conclusion of the forum.
The discussions come as health systems across the Asia-Pacific face overlapping challenges, including climate-related risks, workforce pressures and the need to integrate new technologies while maintaining equitable access to care. The WHO has separately called for stronger health systems and regional cooperation to address shared health risks.
The Phnom Penh forum is scheduled to conclude on Aug. 13, when participating parliamentarians are expected to consider the meeting’s outcome and proposed actions for advancing universal health coverage in the region.
