Khmer Empire had ‘world’s first’ system for healthcare

via Phnom Penh Post, 21 July 2022: The first “organised” healthcare in the world.

Researchers are claiming that the ancient Angkorian Khmer Empire established the world’s first healthcare system within the government structure, with a total of 102 hospitals built throughout the empire.

Im Sokrithy, director of the Department of Temple Conservation and Archaeology at Angkor Archaeological Park under the Apsara National Authority (ANA), told The Post that a group of international experts from the US, UK and Asia had presented their findings at a workshop on “Buddhism and Traditional Medicine” at the ANA’s Angkor Training Centre on July 20.

Sokrithy said that researchers working across the whole of Asia in places such as Tibet, Nepal, India, Southeast Asia, China and Japan have all researched the connection between Buddhism and traditional medicine.

He said those experts had discussions with other researchers who focused on healthcare in past historical periods in Europe including ancient empires such as the Romans, and they concluded that the Khmer Empire was the first to create an organised healthcare system in the world.

Source: Khmer Empire had ‘world’s first’ system for healthcare | Phnom Penh Post