Project News

The mutual site visit between Lao PDR and Thailand on Health Insurance Management (hereinafter referred to as 'mutual visit') was conducted from 20-22 December 2022 by the National Health Security Office (NHSO) of Thailand and the National Health Insurance Bureau (NHIB) of Lao PDR Ministry of Health, with the collaboration of the JICA Technical Cooperation Project "The project for improving quality of healthcare services and financial management of the hospitals in Laos (QHCF)" and "The Partnership Project for Global Health and Universal Health Coverage Phase 2 in Thailand (GLO+UHC2)."

The Lao PDR introduced National Health Insurance System in 2016 and is aiming to improve system management and expand population coverage to achieve UHC by 2025. In this regard, this mutual visit was conducted with the aim of deepening mutual understanding of health financing management related to UHC, improving the healthcare systems, strengthening the capacity of officers who are working on UHC in both countries, and further strengthening the relationship between NHSO and NHIB.

A total of 20 participants from Lao PDR, including representatives from relevant departments of the Ministry of Health including NHIB, and the Ministry of Finance; a total of 5 participants from Thailand, 2 from NHSO and 3 from NHSO Region 8, which has an office in Udon Thani; and Japanese experts and staff from QHCF and GLO+UHC2 participated in this mutual visit.

On the first day, the participants visited the NHIB in the Ministry of Health at Vientiane capital and were given a brief introduction of the Lao health insurance system, followed by a visit to Vientiane Province, to observe the actual situation of health service provision and the health insurance system in Lao PDR. On the second day, all participants travelled from Vientiane to Udon Thani, Thailand, visited Udon Thani hospital and health facilities in Udon Thani Municipality. On the third day, visited health facilities in the suburbs of Udon Thani Province to observe suburban health service provision system in comparison with urban system in Udon Thani municipality. During the visit in Udon Thani, participants also observed health financing system operation and specific mechanism of claim system in Thailand. Throughout the program, participants from both countries and officials from the facilities, that hosted the visits, had active discussions and exchanged opinions fruitfully.

Through the mutual visit, the Lao participants were able to gain a better understanding of the Thai system and learn important lessons for improving Lao system. For Thai participants, it was also a valuable opportunity to re-evaluate the Thai system on their own and consider issues for further improvement. Furthermore, this mutual visit became an important step to strengthen ongoing cooperative relationship between the Lao NHIB and the Thai NHSO in the promotion of UHC in both countries. This was the greatest achievement of this mutual visit.

GLO+UHC2 will continue to support the further development of UHC in both countries in cooperation with the QHCF project.