From Thailand to Lao hospitals: Luxembourg support strengthens infection prevention and control skills for safer healthcare in Lao PDR

Strengthening infection prevention and control (IPC) is vital to improving patient safety in Lao PDR. Thanks to the support of the Health and nutrition programme, healthcare workers from four provincial hospitals are receiving specialised training at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok. This regional exchange equips Lao professionals with essential clinical skills, exposes them to international standards, and supports long‑term efforts to embed safer, more resilient healthcare practices across the country. A first cohort completed its IPC training in January 2026 – a milestone that offers valuable insights into how these new skills can drive change across Lao health facilities.

One of the core priorities of the Health and nutrition programme is to strengthen the skills of healthcare workers in four target provinces (Bokeo, Vientiane, Bolikhamxay, and Khammouane) through capacity development and training, thereby ensuring favourable conditions for the provision of quality healthcare services. To date, short-term scholarships supported by the Health and nutrition programme have proven successful in strengthening the pool of clinical skills and have significantly supported the objective of delivering quality healthcare services to the Lao population. As such, these initiatives are especially relevant in the Lao context, as continued professional development and specialised training opportunities remain limited. By investing in training at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, Lao healthcare workers are given valuable opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and clinical skills, while being exposed to internationally recognised standards of care.

To fulfil the objective of increasing the number of health professionals trained through short-term clinical skills training, two cohorts from four provincial hospitals will attend IPC training at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok during the first quarter of 2026. The first cohort comprises 10 healthcare staff members, including 5 participants from Bokeo Provincial Hospital and 5 participants from Vientiane Provincial Hospital. The second cohort, scheduled to attend the training in March 2026, includes 10 workers from Bolikhamxay Provincial Hospital and 10 staff members from Khammouane Provincial Hospital.

The first IPC training course was conducted at Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, from 19 to 30 January 2026. The opening ceremony was honoured by the presence of Associate Professor Dr Poolsuk Janepanish VISUDTIBHAN, director of the Ramathibodi School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University.

The objective of the training is to equip participants with the fundamental principles and key measures of infection prevention and control in hospital settings, and to strengthen their ability to apply IPC guidelines effectively for patients, healthcare personnel and the healthcare environment.

Reflecting on the lessons learned, one participant highlighted the importance of a systematic and evidence-based approach to IPC. While the training emphasised precautions such as hand hygiene compliance, the surveillance of healthcare-associated infections, and the correct use of personal protective equipment, participants also gained practical insights into how strong leadership, teamwork, and continuous monitoring are essential to sustaining effective IPC practices.

Importantly, to ensure a lasting impact beyond a single individual, the acquired knowledge on how to embed stronger IPC practices into routine hospital systems will be cascaded across the health system, from provincial hospitals to district hospitals and to health centres. For new skills to lead to sustainable and continuous professional development, cooperation and knowledge sharing represent a cornerstone of the post-training responsibilities. Accordingly, beyond the training itself, one participant highlighted concrete plans for interventions to be rolled out in hospitals to ensure lasting change for the benefit of both patients and staff:

Participant testimonies highlight how translating specialised training into day-to-day practices and cascading knowledge across health facilities can contribute to lasting improvements. This approach of leveraging regional best practices to build national clinical capacities reflects the Health and nutrition programme’s commitment to strengthening healthcare systems through sustainable capacity development.

The Health and nutrition programme is financed by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and jointly implemented by the Ministry of Health of Lao PDR and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.