Lao-Luxembourg health sector support programme - Phase II

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has been providing support to the health sector since the Cooperation between Lao PDR and Luxembourg started in the late 1997.

The specific objective of preceding phase: Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme – Phase I, was to assist the Lao Ministry of Health in implementing and operationalizing its long-term Health Sector Strategy 2000–2020, Primary Health Care Strategy and Health Sector Development Plans, emphasizing its eight Priority Programmes, with a view to implement quality health services for reaching a larger share of the population, especially the poorest, those at risk, and living in more remote areas. This includes ethnic minority peoples.

The Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme – Phase II will stay in that continuity, with a similar general objective, and a specific objective that aims at supporting the implementation of the updated sector policy (Health Sector Reform Framework 2013–2025) with a specific focus on Mother and Child Health, by fostering district health systems and actors.

The Project will have a steady geographical focus on the three provinces of Vientiane, Bolikhamxay and Khammouane. It will concentrate on fostering the Provincial Health Department roles and responsibilities, towards facilitation of effective Primary Health Care service delivery at district level and Mother and Child Health activities.

Special attention will be given to the development of a patient-centred health care approach, and to the priority target groups such as pregnant women and children under five-years.

In a nutshell, the Project is to support the Ministry of Health in implementing the Health Sector Reform framework 2013–2025, prioritizing access to quality Mother and Child Health services through the strengthening of health districts in the three central provinces.

The Lao-Luxembourg Health Sector Support Programme II is fully aligned with the Government of Laos’ recent policy and strategy developments. It has been designed to support the further development and implementation of the health sector reform by the Ministry of Health as adopted by the National Assembly. As such, support will be provided:

• in accordance to the principles included in the three-builds decentralization model (greater autonomy and responsibilities given to the provinces);
• in line with the sub-sector strategies and the Primary Health Care / district approach adopted by the Ministry of Health; and
• in complement to the other development initiatives supported by the Ministry of Health and its Development Partners.