Equity in Access to Healthcare and Poverty in Cambodia

Abstract

The relationship between equity in access to healthcare and poverty is of major concern. The Health Equity Funds mechanism is used by countries to ensure access to healthcare for the poor, with the overarching intention of ensuring equity in access to healthcare among the rich and the poor. Perhaps the best country on earth committed to its use is Cambodia. Despite several studies conducted on equity in healthcare and poverty in the country, there is a dearth of research on the relationship between the two concepts and policies to overcome challenges in the health system to achieve all-important equity. Based on empirical research, this paper explores the relationship between equity in access to healthcare and poverty in Cambodia and critically analyses the policy measures required to overcome challenges in the health system to ensure equity in access to healthcare in the country.