Health and Care System for Older People in Cambodia

As Cambodia experiences a demographic shift marked by a growing elderly population, the country confronts significant challenges in ensuring the provision of accessible, affordable, and sustainable healthcare for its aging citizens. This paper critically examines healthcare policies and frameworks related to elderly care, drawing insights from around 20 peer-reviewed scholarly sources, including international case studies and regional policy analyses. Key thematic areas explored include healthcare financing models (such as universal coverage and insurance schemes), barriers to healthcare accessibility for older adults, long-term care infrastructure, and the role of community-based support systems, including family caregivers and local health volunteers. A comparative approach is adopted to identify effective strategies from countries with similar socio-economic profiles and to evaluate their applicability within the Cambodian context. The findings reveal that successful elderly healthcare systems typically feature integrated financing mechanisms, strong primary healthcare networks, and government-led support for home and community-based care. The study concludes with policy recommendations aimed at strengthening Cambodia’s health system for the elderly, including establishing a national aging policy, expanding geriatric training programs, and investing in community outreach initiatives. These recommendations are aligned with Cambodia’s socio-economic development goals and are intended to support equitable health outcomes for the elderly population.