Cambodia: Towards a Connected and Inclusive Health System, the Vision of Pascal Catry

In the setting of the SUN & MOON Riverside in Phnom Penh, on October 30, 2025, the Health and Innovation Forum organized by EuroCham Cambodia established itself as a melting pot of ideas and proposals to shape the future of digital health in the Kingdom.

Mme Samnangvathana Sor and M. Pascal Catry

At the heart of the discussions, one of the panels dedicated to real use cases of digital innovation in health brought together key players from the sector, including Pascal Catry, CEO of Ucare Pharmacy, whose intervention illustrated the essential role of digital pharmacies in access to modern care.

An Exceptional Roundtable

Under the moderation of Ms. Samnangvathana Sor, co-chair of EuroCham’s health committee, the exchanges emphasized the transformation of the Cambodian health system by digitalization.

Alongside her, four panelists from pioneering organizations – Pascal Catry (Ucare Pharmacy), Tapas Mondal (Fintech Bima), Dr. Ebner Yoon (Intercare Hospital), and Kevin Cöhrs (Zuellig Pharma) – shared their experiences around a central question:How does digital innovation revolutionize the distribution and quality of health services in real contexts?

Ucare Pharmacy: A Proximity Revolution

From the outset, Pascal Catry chose to expand the discussion beyond simple delivery logistics. For him, “digital transformation is not just about delivering medicines to homes; it is about offering a full spectrum of online services, from pharmaceutical e-consultation to personalized support.”

Accessible through e-commerce platforms and social networks, Ucare today offers more than 5,000 references – both medical and non-medical – while ensuring through price transparency and service quality a reassuring experience for users.

The online pharmaceutical consultation, deployed notably on Facebook and Telegram, provides quick and reliable responses to patients who are distant or have reduced mobility:“We can manage 70 to 80% of situations online thanks to a performant internet network and effective logistics partners,” he specified.

Accessibility Above All

In a Cambodian context still marked by territorial disparities in access to care, the Ucare model asserts itself as a lever of inclusion.

“Accessibility is fundamental, whether it is about geographic constraints or complex medical situations,” insists Mr. Catry.

During the forum organized by EuroCham

The possibility of obtaining treatments without going to the hospital or physical pharmacy profoundly changes the game for rural or fragile populations. With 29 Ucare pharmacies covering seven provinces, logistics adapts to the real needs of patients, fostering a direct and continuous link between pharmacist and user.

Digital Trust: A Capital to Build

One of the major obstacles raised during the roundtable is the question of trust towards digital services. Pascal Catry acknowledged:“In Cambodia, everyone has a smartphone, but a part of the population remains wary of digital health. Our reputed image helps us build this trust capital, key to broader recourse to teleconsultation and integrated services.”

In partnership with reference hospitals, such as Intercare, Ucare places its pharmacists as first advisors, capable of guiding and following patients in their digital and physical journey.

Digitalization, Security, and Regulation: New Challenges

Facing the rise of remote consultation and delivery, data protection and certification are among the imperatives of tomorrow.

“Secure sharing of medical information and the adoption of agreements between pharmacies and public authorities are essential to guarantee the quality and confidentiality of care,” emphasized Mr. Catry.

Improvement of the regulatory framework is awaited with public authorities’ support to accelerate the adoption of these innovative practices.

Pharmacies: New Digital Care Centers

Pascal Catry’s intervention was praised for defining the contours of a broadened role for the pharmacy of the future:“Our pharmacies are becoming digital care centers, capable of providing primary care services, fighting antimicrobial resistance through better prescription management, and supporting the follow-up of chronic diseases without travel.”

He stressed the importance of continuous training and staff certification, pivotal for collective skills development.

Strategic Alliances and Integration with Insurance

The complementarity between pharmacy, hospital, and private insurance also nourished the debates. Pascal Catry mentioned, in the final part of the panel, the possibility of integrating Ucare Pharmacy with public schemes such as the ASSF, facilitating administrative management and expanding access to quality care, notably through data pooling and simplification of procedures.

“We are ready to welcome and serve patients with certified pharmacists, in a secure and connected environment,” he affirmed.

International Perspective and Lessons from the Field

The exchanges revealed that while Cambodia is not reinventing digital health, it knows how to adapt international models to its realities.

As Mr. Catry reminded, “The adoption of platforms and services inspired from abroad is done taking into account trust, transparency, and patient choice.”

This open and pragmatic strategy allows the country to accelerate digital inclusion and offer its citizens the necessary tools to access universal health.

Towards a Collaborative Ecosystem

The EuroCham Health Forum 2025 marked a decisive step by laying the foundations for increased collaboration between professionals, institutions, and innovators. Pascal Catry’s intervention illustrated how digital pharmacies are destined to become strategic partners in building a more agile, transparent, and inclusive health system.

Opening the way to a “digital universal health,” the agility and innovation shown by actors like Ucare Pharmacy will undoubtedly be pillars of health development in Cambodia.

Digital health is no longer an option: it becomes the preferred path to meet the challenges of accessibility and quality of care in Cambodia. By elevating the digital pharmacy to a central actor in the patient journey, Pascal Catry offers an ambitious and pragmatic vision, based on trust, proximity, and collaborative innovation. A course to follow for a more humane and united health, driven by technology and collective commitment.