People came to submit documents to receive financial aid from the National Social Security Fund on March 27. Hong Menea
The government has issued a sub-decree expanding the scope of social security protection for public sector employees. The coverage now includes work-related injuries and broader healthcare benefits than the previous package.
Signed by Prime Minister Hun Manet on March 22 and made public on March 25, the sub-decree defines those who will be covered by the new protections.
This includes all members of the government and its ministries and institutions, as well as Phnom Penh and provincial authorities, down to the village level.
In addition, it provides coverage to teachers of Buddhist studies and the officials of the General Inspectorate for National Buddhist Education.
Advisers and assistants who do not receive functional allowances do not fall under the scope of the sub-decree.
Heng Sophannarith, deputy director-general of the Ministry of Health’s National Social Security Fund (NSSF), explained how the new sub-decree has increase the benefits eligible civil servants will receive.
“Previously, when they used the NSSF, they were only able to access health checkups. Under the new terms, they have 24-hour-a-day healthcare and occupational injury protection,” he said.
He called on all eligible public servants to prepare the appropriate documents and register for the new programme at their nearest NSSF branch.
Nuth Sambath, president of the Royal Academy of Cambodia’s Institute of Medicine, Biology and Agriculture, noted the impressive way the seventh-mandate government is improving access to healthcare.
He said this is part of phase one of its Pentagonal Strategy, which aims to move towards the provision of universal healthcare.
Sambath said it is important that civil servants, members of the armed forces and the public, especially the poor and the vulnerable, are able to access healthcare when they fall ill.
“I hope that this expansion will result in more people receiving treatment. This shows the care the government has for public health,” he said.
The government has earmarked around $100 million for the implementation of its “first priority” policy, ensuring about nine million people receive healthcare. As of February 29 this year, 460,000 civil servants and almost 1.5 million private sector employees have become members of the NSSF.
