The Medical Council of Cambodia (MCC) has appealed to all medical professionals who have not yet done so to register themselves and apply for medical licenses.
Applications can be made at capital and provincial medical council offices. The council will waive outstanding registration fees, according to a February 6 release by MCC chairman Thea Kruy.
The letter said that in order to encourage respect for the law, it was asking all doctors who are practicing without licenses to register and apply for new ones. The council will exempt applicants from back fees. But from 2024 on, no debts will be forgiven.
“I urge the directors of capital and provincial medical councils, to order unlicensed and unregistered doctors to fulfil their obligations, and remind them that unlicensed doctors are strictly forbidden from practicing,” it added.
According to the announcement, the waiving of fees does not exempt doctors who practice illegally. Article 28 of the Law on the Regulation of Health Practitioners says the illegal practice of medicine is punishable by imprisonment from one month to two years and fines of 2-5 million riel.
In a February 3 meeting with Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng, Dominic Williams, UK ambassador expressed his pleasure at the close attention the government has paid to the health sector, especially for its successful efforts to control the spread of Covid-19.
“Williams discussed the UK’s support for the Cambodian health sector and commended the ministry for its commitment to controlling and preventing the spread of Covid-19 in Cambodia,” said the UK embassy.
It added that Williams shared the UK’s commitment to continuing its support for the health sector, through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, including the Global Fund.
Bun Heng welcomed the support of Williams and the UK government, adding that the UK has long provided financial and technical support to the Cambodian health sector, including it reform programme. The support was especially welcome in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In August 2021, the UK provided 415,000 doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to Cambodia, as humanitarian assistance in a difficult time.
