Phnom Penh: The Secretary of State of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation and Secretary-General of Disability Action Council (DAC), Em Chan Makara, has said that the Royal Government of Cambodia has established 11 rehabilitation centers for persons with disabilities in the capital and provinces, but Cambodia still lacks skilled therapists to support the provision of rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities.

Speaking at the Workshop on “Health and Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities in Cambodia” on the morning of 13 December 2022, the Secretary of State said that in recent years, the disability sector has developed. He emphasized that the Royal Government of Cambodia has made efforts to establish 11 physical rehabilitation centers in the capital and provinces, including rehabilitation centers, treatment centers for the mentally ill, and national centers for persons with disabilities.

He added that recently, the Royal Government has also built new buildings to provide rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities in two other provinces: Kampong Thom and Preah Vihear.

He added that the Royal Government has also given priority to persons with disabilities through the provision of rehabilitation services, vocational training, job creation and employment, and the establishment of physical infrastructure to facilitate the provision of services to persons with disabilities.

However, the Secretary of State Em Chan Makara acknowledged that Cambodia still lacks skilled therapists in rehabilitation for persons with disabilities.

"Currently, in addition to the 11 rehabilitation centers established by the Royal Government, there are also private clinics, but the number is still limited compared to the entire population of Cambodia in need of physical rehabilitation services. So I think it is necessary to have the equipment, the establishment of more rehabilitation clinics, and more human resources in the field of rehabilitation," he said.

The Secretary of State encouraged therapists who specialize in rehabilitation for persons with disabilities to continue to share experiences and skills to those who wish to learn skills in the field of rehabilitation for persons with disabilities to expand and increase more human resources in this field.

He also thanked KOICA for providing both funding and technology through RI KOREA to share best practices and understanding of legal documents related to health and rehabilitation for persons with disabilities in Cambodia and South Korea to the stakeholders.