"Smarter Data, Better Care": Cambodia Pushes AI, Digital Innovation at ASEAN-Korea Health Summit

PHNOM PENH, September 11, 2026 – Health Minister Professor Chheang Ra led Cambodia's delegation to the 3rd ASEAN-Republic of Korea Health Ministers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, where discussions centred on harnessing artificial intelligence and digital innovation to build a more connected regional healthcare ecosystem.

The meeting, held under the theme "Smarter Data, Better Care," gathered health ministers from all 11 ASEAN Member States alongside representatives from the Republic of Korea. In his address, Professor Chheang Ra welcomed the choice of AI as the priority topic, describing it as a critical field for all ASEAN nations and acknowledging Korea's global leadership in the sector.

He noted, however, that significant challenges remain and that progress varies across member states. To maximise the value of cooperation with Korea, he proposed three priorities: equipping health professionals and students with digital literacy skills; preparing local health systems for AI adoption through robust national data governance; and ensuring patient medical histories can be transformed into actionable information across institutions.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of a Joint Statement reaffirming commitments to digital health transformation, capacity-building initiatives, and the development of strategies for modernising healthcare delivery across the region.

— Source: Ministry of Health of Cambodia

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Reported by The Khmer Today