Background
The Ministry of Health has organized targeted training activities to strengthen the operational capacity of the Population-Based Cancer Registry (PBCR) and the interpersonal communication skills required for case registration and data collection. The Ministry of Health adopted a National Cancer Control Plan 2025–2030 that entered into use in May 2025.
Cambodia began population-based cancer registry data collection in 2023, with initial collection activities conducted in Phnom Penh and technical support from the global public health organization Vital Strategies. The PBCR system in Cambodia is undergoing a transition from offline paper-based registration toward online data capture to improve timeliness and data management.
Key Developments
On 25 August 2026 in Siem Reap, State Secretary Dr. Ngov Kang presided over the opening of a three-day regional communication training focused on PBCR registration procedures and community-facing communication. The training ran from 25–27 August and brought together 27 participants and facilitators from Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, several African countries, and technical facilitators provided by Vital Strategies.
Institutional Role
Under the leadership indicated by the national plan, the Ministry of Health has formed technical working groups to coordinate cancer-control activities and support PBCR implementation. Vital Strategies provided technical and facilitation support for the training, and the Ministry noted ongoing work to expand PBCR operations beyond initial Phnom Penh collection activities.
Operational Implications
The regional training targeted skills needed for registration workflows and community engagement that support accurate case identification and reporting. These capacity-building steps align with the operational shift from offline registration toward online PBCR tools, which requires coordinated training of registry staff and local health workers.
