Phnom Penh—On 10 September 2018, the National Social Security Fund of Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training signed a memorandum of understanding on Twinning Partnership between the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to be held at Sunway Hotel, Phnom Penh, in a bid to build up the implementation of social security schemes in conformity with local and international legal instrument and technics.
This event was presided over by H.E. Ith Samheng, Minister of Labour and Vocational Training, together with secretaries of state, deputy-secretaries of state, and H.E. Seng Sakda, president of the Governing Body of NSSF, as well as taken part by leaders and representatives of GIZ, institutions, and organization involved amounted to estimated 80 participants.
The National Social Security Fund headed by H.E. Ouk Samvithyea, Delegate of the Royal Government in charge as Director of the National Social Security Fund, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation led by Dr. Roberto M.Salvador, Member of the PhilHealth Governing Board and Representative of Dr. Roy B. Ferrer, Acting President of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
H.E. Dr. Ith Samheng said that signing this memorandum of understanding provides an opportunity to both institutions to exchange visions and experiences.
He added that under the outstanding leadership of the wisdom of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, issued the Rectangular Strategy Phase-III in a bid to promote social protection focusing on social security sector, particularly Health Care Scheme; for implementing social security sector, the National Social Security Fund who is an operator focuses on three main schemes—Employment Insurance, Health Care, and Pension Schemes for workers defined by the provisions of the labour law as well as public employees, former civil servants, and veterans.
Nowadays, Cambodia has 2,477 Philippine employees and employers who are working in 422 enterprises/ establishments.
Dr. ROBERTO M.SALVADOR certified that PhilHealth was established in 1995 and is an institution under the control of the Philippine government as well as is implementing the universal health coverage; PhilHealth is mandated to provide comprehensive health care services to all Filipinos through a socialized health insurance program especially for the underprivileged, sick, elderly, persons with disabilities, women and children and provide free health care services to indigents.
H.E. Ouk Samvithyea, Delegate of the Royal Government in charge as Director of the National Social Security Fund, clarified that signing ceremony of memorandum of understanding has three specific objectives as follows:
- Create a professional relationship between NSSF and PhilHealth.
- Share relevant operational knowledge, including managerial, financial, and technical skills and systems.
- To facilitate learning process through which NSSF can improve its organization with efficiency, effectiveness, and budget sustainability by having an opportunity to expose and learn through concrete examples and practical experience provided directly by its partners.
He added that NSSF has launched social security scheme on Occupational Risk since 2008, Health Care for workers defined by the provisions of the labour law since September 2016, and Health Care for public employees, former civil servants, and veterans as well as informal worker since January 2018. Moreover, since 01 January 2018, NSSF distributed the additional allowance of the Royal Government to 38,997 informal and formal postnatal workers with 39,292 babies equal to 15,72 billion riels by this August.
Until now, Health Care Scheme has covered approximately 1,800,000 members—1,500,000 workers and 300,000 public employees.
He strongly hopes that through this collaboration with PhilHealth, NSSF will receive the positively fruitful result in order to contribute to strengthen the implementation of social protection policy of the Royal Government with effectiveness and efficiency.
