Background
The Ministry of Health convened a national consultation on 2 September 2026 to review evaluation results of the healthcare-associated infection (HAI) reporting system and to consider revisions to national infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance.
The Ministry recommended six measures to strengthen HAI surveillance and IPC, including timely submission of HAI data to the Ministry of Health, routine monitoring at facility level, data quality assurance, scheduled on-site surveillance, establishment of common reporting definitions and training, and regular feedback mechanisms to facility leadership and staff.
Scope of Application
The recommendations and proposed guidance revisions apply to HAI reporting and IPC practices across healthcare delivery and long-term care settings in Cambodia. The scope includes hospital management, IPC focal points, clinical staff, and public health units responsible for surveillance and response.
Key Provisions or Decisions
- Strengthen timely reporting: facilities should submit HAI data consistently to the Ministry of Health to serve as the basis for timely public health interventions.
- Enhance routine monitoring and evaluation: facility-level surveillance should include regular assessments of challenges and implementation potential.
- Ensure data quality: verification of data collection and recording is required to support effective decision-making.
- Increase on-site surveillance: define clear schedules for on-site data collection to reflect real conditions at facilities.
- Standardize reporting and training: develop common definitions, priority indicators, reporting procedures, and on-site staff training for IPC focal points.
- Establish feedback mechanisms: deliver regular surveillance results to facility leadership and staff (monthly or quarterly) to support corrective actions.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
Healthcare facilities and administrators will need to align internal surveillance and record-keeping practices with the recommended measures to maintain compliance with national IPC guidance. Strengthening HAI reporting and data quality will require operational changes such as scheduling on-site surveillance, adopting standardized definitions, and instituting regular feedback loops for clinical and administrative staff.
Official Source
Ministry of Health press release and workshop report (2 September 2026). Source: Ministry of Health Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/MinistryofHealthofCambodia/posts/pfbid02Qig9W2dXBxjVAiHE9fhAVZjrfz662utfPZoSWpd2S6h19z14XxRRY1qUXVu5SmwWl
