Cambodia Seeks Stronger Medical Research and Training Ties Through Francophone Network
Cambodia Seeks Stronger Medical Research and Training Ties Through Francophone Network
PHNOM PENH, November 14, 2026 — Medical experts and senior representatives from Francophone countries gathered in Cambodia on Friday for a historic workshop focused on establishing a Francophone Medical Network in Southeast Asia.
The workshop was held at the University of Health Sciences (UHS) under the chairmanship of Professor Kuy Vanny, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Health, representing the Cambodian Minister of Health.
The event was attended by Professor Saphon Vathana, Rector of UHS, and Professor Patrice Debré, President of the International Relations Committee of the French National Academy of Medicine, alongside 74 national and international delegates from 17 countries.
The participating countries included Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, China, France, Belgium, Canada, Benin, Congo, Morocco, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Tunisia.
In his remarks, Professor Saphon Vathana highlighted the long-standing history of French-language medical education and training cooperation among Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and France.
He explained that the proposed network aims to strengthen the exchange of information and funding opportunities, organise high-level scientific conferences, facilitate exchanges of doctoral and postdoctoral students, and develop joint training and research programmes.
Professor Kuy Vanny praised the central role of UHS in developing Cambodia’s healthcare workforce. He stressed that the initiative was fully aligned with Cambodia’s Fourth Health Strategic Plan (HSP4) for 2025–2034, which seeks to improve access to healthcare services, enhance the quality and safety of care, promote equity and strengthen resilience to public health emergencies.
He also put forward three recommendations for the workshop.
First, he proposed that UHS serve as the secretariat of the Francophone Medical Network in Southeast Asia for its first two years to ensure effective coordination of activities.
Second, he called for joint action programmes addressing priority health issues, including communicable and non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, the One Health approach, and measures to reduce the impacts of climate change.
Third, he encouraged exchanges of experts and doctoral and postdoctoral students through both North–South and South–South cooperation frameworks to accelerate knowledge transfer and innovation.
The workshop was organised by the University of Health Sciences in close cooperation with the French National Academy of Medicine (Académie nationale de médecine de France) and the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF).
