PHNOM PENH — Cambodia has expanded the coverage of its social security health-care scheme to retired military personnel of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces holding the ranks of general and admiral, according to a government sub-decree. The measure is aimed at extending access to medical treatment and health-care services to retired military personnel who fall within the newly defined category.

The sub-decree sets out the scope of the health-care social security scheme for retired military personnel of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces holding the ranks of general and admiral. It also establishes the administrative arrangements required to implement the scheme. Under the measure, the health-care scheme for the eligible retired military personnel is to take effect from July 2026.

The registration process, contribution arrangements, claims procedures, benefit provision and payment for medical services are to be carried out in accordance with existing laws and regulations governing Cambodia's social security system.

The expansion comes as Cambodia continues to broaden access to social protection and health-care coverage among different groups of the population. The National Social Security Fund, or NSSF, is responsible for administering and delivering social security programmes, while the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training provides overall supervision of the social security system.

The sub-decree also assigns responsibility to the relevant government institution overseeing social assistance for former military personnel to provide and regularly update information on eligible retired generals and admirals for the NSSF. The information is to be submitted to the NSSF on a regular basis to ensure that the list of beneficiaries remains up to date and that eligible retirees can receive health-care benefits under the scheme. The arrangement is intended to strengthen coordination between government institutions responsible for former military personnel and the NSSF, particularly in relation to beneficiary registration and the delivery of health-care services.

The move forms part of Cambodia's broader efforts to expand social protection and health-care coverage. Cambodia's social security framework includes health-care, occupational-risk and pension schemes, with the NSSF playing a central role in administering social insurance programmes. The country's social security system has also been expanded in recent years to cover additional groups. In 2023, Cambodia introduced a voluntary health insurance scheme for self-employed people and dependants of NSSF members, with the stated aim of widening access to health protection.

The latest measure specifically addresses retired military personnel holding senior ranks, adding them to the health-care social security framework under the conditions set out in the government sub-decree. The implementation of the measure involves several government institutions, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, the Ministry of Health, the government institution responsible for social assistance to former military personnel, the NSSF and other relevant agencies.

The institutions are expected to carry out their respective responsibilities under the sub-decree and existing regulations. The expansion means that eligible retired generals and admirals will have access to health-care services through the social security system, subject to the registration requirements and procedures established by the government.

The policy adds another layer to Cambodia's evolving social protection system, which seeks to extend health-care and other forms of social protection to a wider range of groups. International Social Security Association data also identifies health care as one of Cambodia's core social security branches and notes the NSSF's role in administering social insurance programmes.