Twenty hospitals and clinics in the capital, Siem Reap and Battambang provinces have participated in the “Leveraging Technology to Upgrade Cambodian Healthcare” project to “go digital and go green” by switching from traditional paper-based operations to a new digital hospital management system developed by Peth Yoeung – a cloud-based platform developer from Cambodia.

A joint press statement released on March 29 said that by leveraging technology in their healthcare facilities, the participants supported the development of Cambodia’s Smart Cities, advanced the use of technology in healthcare, and reduced the environmental impact of the healthcare system.

The project is part of The Smart Green Hospital Network, which was launched in October 2020 and comes to an end this month. During the course of the 18-month project, 867 health professionals were registered and trained to use Peth Yoeung’s digital platform, while 108,750 medical records were digitalised.

The statement said the network will contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable environment. The system facilitates modern and efficient healthcare service delivery to participating hospital clinics, and supports better quality healthcare and patient outcomes, especially for women and children.

The project was made possible by a grant from the US Department of State in support of the US-ASEAN Smart Cities Partnership, and Cambodia’s three Smart Cities – Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Battambang.

Pong Limsan, founder and CEO of Peth Yoeung, said the Smart Green Hospital Network project aims to enhance healthcare quality through the digitalisation of hospital operations – including outpatient and inpatient departmental flow.

“We have a strong desire to make a positive environmental impact by shifting traditional paper-based operation and document printing into digital processes,” she said.

US ambassador to Cambodia Patrick Murphy said the project fulfilled its target of providing high quality healthcare and contributed to a reduction in environmental pollution.

He said the original target of the project was to digitalise 35,000 patients’ medical records, yet over 100,000 were digitalised by the projects conclusion.

“It has had a massive impact on the health sector, but the project was aimed not only at healthcare system advancement. We had various other goals including the smart green city project, the digital economy, women’s empowerment and fighting climate change,” he said.

Ministry of Health spokeswoman Or Vandine, who attended a workshop on the outcomes of this project, said it had had a positive impact on consultation and treatment of patients.

This represented a big part of healthcare provider’s collective efforts to maintain responsibility and to sustain a clean and green environment. Using digital innovation to upgrade healthcare quality is an element that was included, considered and recommended in the national healthcare policy of the ministry, she said.

Vandine said the ministry also called for more interconnectedness and cooperation from all of the participants in the campaign.

Bin Socheat, co-founder and business operations advisor of Peth Yoeung, said the 20 hospitals and clinics are private because that was where the project was focused. Twelve are in Phnom Penh, with four each from Siem Reap and Battambang joining the project.

“We are seeking support to begin a second phase of roll-outs, although we have not yet spoken to our donors. If they agree, we intend to approach 26 facilities in Kandal, Kampot and Kep,” he said.