Background
The meeting on 10 August 2026 convened by the Ministry of Health’s MPDSR (Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response) national committee examined neonatal deaths reported from the National Pediatric Hospital and referred cases from emergency hospital branches. The national MPDSR committee meeting included representatives from the national committee, eight national hospital MPDSR teams, and two branches of the emergency hospital network, with a total of 86 participants.
MPDSR is a health governance mechanism that systematically reviews maternal and neonatal deaths to identify system-level causes and propose corrective actions at facility and referral levels. Color-coded risk stratification during antenatal care assigns risk categories to pregnant women to trigger targeted follow-up and expedited referral for high-risk pregnancies.
Scope of Application
The committee directed recommendations at the National Pediatric Hospital, the referring emergency hospital branches, and all public and private hospitals that provide maternal and newborn services in Cambodia. The Ministry of Health framed implementation expectations to cover antenatal care (ANC) screening, intrapartum management, and neonatal referral pathways.
Key Provisions or Decisions
Participants reviewed the cases using the three delays (3 Delays) framework to identify delays in seeking care, delays in reaching care, and delays in receiving timely, adequate care. The committee identified principal contributing conditions cited in the case reviews as preterm birth, low birth weight, and vertical transmission of infection during delivery.
As a procedural outcome, the committee recommended the formal use of a colour-coding system for antenatal risk classification and advised that all hospitals—public and private—adhere to the Ministry’s colour-coding guidance for high-risk pregnant women. The committee also urged improvements in referral communication and the quality of neonatal transport and handover to reduce neonatal mortality associated with transfers.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
Health facilities and private hospital operators will be expected to align with the Ministry of Health’s MPDSR procedures for case review and risk classification; compliance will be relevant for clinical governance and facility accreditation processes. Companies providing digital health records, referral coordination, or ambulance services may encounter new demand for systems that support standardized risk coding and timely transfer documentation.
Official Source
Ministry of Health social post: https://www.facebook.com/MinistryofHealthofCambodia/posts/pfbid035a71Epe9yxWxG8QoyvetxXmvnBki3Hw34LySbH8t8mQ3QGWXmvmabc4nXz4PcXcRl (published 11 August 2026).
