Plan for health care development in Laos until 2010 and the vision to 2020

Le Quang Hoanh, Phan Thuc Anh, Bui Thanh Tam,

Ngo Ngoc Anh, Trinh Thuy Hang

Place of publication: Health strategy and policy institute- Ministry of Health; Ministry of education and training

Year of publication: 2000

The construction of the plan for health care development for the next 10 and 20 years is very important for Laos. Effective investment will save the government budget and resources of the country, contributing to health development of Laos to meet the various health care needs of Laotian people in the market economy... The research objectives were to develop a national health system for health care and protection for Laotian people, to reduce illness proportion, improve health and increase longevity, contributing to the increase of humanistic development index (HDI) of the country. Understanding that investment for health is investment for humans, the plan for health development in Laos aims at an equitable and effective health system with higher and higher quality in the next 10-20 years.

In order to develop the plan, the authors have analysed physical and socio-economic characteristics, population, education and culture, as well as the real situation of health of Laos (epidemiology, facilities, human resources, other resources...), then identified the advantages and the issues that need consideration. The authors also studied the plan for socio-economic development and the basic indicators of development of Laos in order to develop a comprehensive plan for health care development in Laos for the period 2001-2020. The orientations and specific objectives have also been statedin the plan, devided into two stages, from 2000 to 2010 and from 2010 to 2020.