Background
The Ministry of Health marked the formal opening of a new non-communicable disease (NCD) building at Pursat Provincial Hospital on 9 June 2026, delivered as a grant from the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH). The new facility is intended to expand provincial-level capacity for diagnosis, treatment and management of chronic illnesses within the public hospital network.
The NCD building is a four-storey facility with a total gross floor area of 3,408.53 square metres and a building height of 17.65 metres. Construction began on 27 June 2023 and was completed in April 2026, with reported construction costs of US$1,782,785.15 and medical equipment supplied at a value of US$249,992.60.
Key Developments
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Minister Chheang Ra and the South Korean ambassador, Kim Changyong, and included representatives from KOFIH and other development partners. Ministry remarks at the event acknowledged the facility as a donor-funded investment aimed at strengthening provincial healthcare infrastructure and explicitly linked the project to ongoing efforts to reduce disease burden.
Institutional Role
KOFIH acted as the donor agency that financed construction and equipment for the building, while the Ministry of Health retains authority for integrating the facility into provincial service delivery and operational oversight. The project adds targeted infrastructure for non-communicable disease care at the provincial hospital level, complementing the Ministry’s system-level planning for service coverage.
Operational Implications
At the ceremony the minister issued a set of operational recommendations for health staff, including maintaining professional ethics, upholding working hours and discipline, protecting patient rights, and collaborating to ensure quality and safety. Additional recommendations covered infrastructure maintenance, workforce training and equipment modernization, strengthened maternal and child health and immunization services, and coordination of resources with development partners and local authorities.
