Background
At the AIDS 2026 conference in Brazil, Dr. Yuy Sambath, State Secretary of the Ministry of Health, described Cambodia’s preparation and implementation approach for a bilateral memorandum of understanding with the United States covering 2026–2030. The Royal Government of Cambodia and the United States government have established a five-year bilateral memorandum of understanding for 2026–2030 with a total funding envelope of US$36.1 million to support HIV, tuberculosis, and global health security programs.
The MOU emphasizes country ownership, increased domestic investment, and program sustainability through specific technical priorities. The agreement prioritizes expansion of HIV prevention services including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), scale-up of HIV testing, maintenance and expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART), routine viral load monitoring, prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), and strengthening digital health information systems to support program decision-making.
Scope of Application
The memorandum covers bilateral cooperation between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the U.S. Government for the period 2026–2030 and directs funding toward national HIV-related programs, complementary tuberculosis activities, and measures related to global health security. Implementation applies to Ministry of Health programmes, designated implementing partners, and associated public-health facilities and systems engaged in the delivery, monitoring, and reporting of covered services.
Key Provisions or Decisions
Key elements identified by the Ministry include measures to expand HIV prevention (including PrEP), increase availability of diagnostic testing, sustain and broaden ART coverage, and strengthen viral load testing capacity. The MOU also highlights investments in digital health information systems and use of data for program quality improvement and decision-making, and commits to steps that increase domestic financing and local ownership of service delivery.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
Donors, international partners, and non-governmental implementers should align proposals and activities with national HIV strategies and the MOU’s stated technical priorities to be eligible for coordinated support. Health facilities and implementing organizations will need to integrate reporting into strengthened digital health systems and follow national clinical and data standards where applicable; such alignment is presented as a condition for coordinated program sustainability under the MOU framework.
Official Source
Ministry of Health Facebook post summarising participation at AIDS 2026 and Cambodia–U.S. MOU: https://www.facebook.com/MinistryofHealthofCambodia/posts/pfbid02wG9vGPgRAwjU7DtMU6CmeZrxr77fFmSEMQrvqvdSbok9Grw1pAopgxpZikr8Ahfvl
