Project News Vol.13

The project for improving quality of healthcare services and financial management of the hospitals (QHCF) project conducted the study tour and mutual visit tour between Champasak Province in Lao. PDR and Ubon Ratchathani Province in Thailand in June and July 2024, respectively, in collaboration with the National Health Security Office (NHSO), Thailand.

The QHCF project has two outputs, therefore two separate tours to Ubon Ratchathani with different participants and agendas were conducted. The primary purpose of both tours was to promote further current initiatives in the QHCF project and further collaboration between Lao PDR and Thailand by mutually visiting the actual sites and gaining a deeper understanding of the quality of healthcare services (including patient safety) and the hospital management (accounting/financial management, including the health insurance fund management).

The Lao PDR team for Quality Improvement of Healthcare Services was composed of a representative from the Department of Healthcare and Rehabilitation (DHR) of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and from four southern provinces (Champasak, Salavan, Sekong, Attapeu), Japanese experts and Lao National Staff of the QHCF Project. Two district hospitals of different sizes in Ubon Ratchathani Province and neighboring provinces were visited. Through lectures and ward tours, discussions were held to exchange views and deepen understanding of the methods and implementation of quality improvement in healthcare services, as well as motivation within hospitals in both countries. At the same time, the Lao PDR team discussed how to adapt the knowledge gained from the Thai system to further advance their ongoing quality improvement initiatives in the QHCF project.

The Lao PDR team for hospital management comprised a representative from the Department of Planning and Finance (DOPF) and the National Health Insurance Bureau (NHIB) of MoH, representatives from four southern provinces, Japanese experts, and National Staff of the QHCF Project. During the mutual visit, representatives from Thailand's NHSO, along with participants from Lao PDR, first visited district hospitals and health centers in Champasak Province, Lao PDR. Subsequently, all participants traveled to Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand, where they visited district hospitals and engaged in training and discussions in a conference room. Through these activities, discussions were held regarding the similarities and differences between the health insurance systems, accounting, and hospital financial management practices of both countries, as well as the related systems. The discussions also covered points that could be adopted by both sides. On the Lao PDR side, further discussions were held on how to collaborate on quality improvement activities in healthcare services and how to effectively implement related systems.