The Hidden Burden of Parkinson's Disease in Cambodia: A Call to Action

ABSTRACT

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an emerging global public health concern, particularly in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs), yet it remains under‐recognized in Cambodia. The absence of reliable epidemiological data, limited specialist workforce, delayed diagnosis, and inadequate access to essential medicines contribute to a substantial but largely hidden disease burden. Health system limitations, such as inadequate primary care capacity, rehabilitation services, and insufficient community‐based support, further exacerbated disparities in PD care. This article highlights critical gaps in PD management in Cambodia and calls for urgent, coordinated action. Key priorities include establishing national surveillance systems, strengthening primary healthcare, expanding the neurology workforce, building local capacity, promoting cross‐cultural education, leveraging digital health and telemedicine, improving access to essential medicines, and integrating PD into national health policies as core components of Cambodia's long‐term strategy for enhancing PD care. Addressing these challenges is essential to ensure equitable and effective care for individuals living with PD and to align Cambodia's health system with universal health coverage (UHC) goals.