The Ministry of Health of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) convened the 18th Health Sector Working Group Policy-Level Meeting in Vientiane as the country prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in November 2026. As Lao PDR graduates, so too must its health system. The transition, together with a sustained decline in official development assistance, brings both the expectation and the necessity of greater self-reliance, built on stronger domestic financing for health, the responsible use of digital technologies and a renewed drive to raise the quality of services for a population whose expectations and needs continue to grow. The meeting took place as the country implements the 10th Five-Year Health Sector Development Plan (2026–2030).
The meeting was chaired by HE Mme Baykham Khattiya, Minister of Health, and co-chaired by HE Mr Tsutomu Koizumi, Ambassador of Japan to Lao PDR, and Dr Timothy Armstrong, WHO Representative to Lao PDR. The meeting brought together government leaders and development partners to review progress, identify challenges and strengthen alignment around priorities for 2027.
A health system that graduates with the country
Lao PDR’s graduation from Least Developed Country status marks a milestone in the nation’s development and reshapes the environment in which the health sector operates. As concessional financing and development assistance decline, the Government and its partners recognised that sustaining and improving health services will depend increasingly on domestic resources and on the sector’s own capacity to plan, finance and deliver. Participants framed graduation as a shared transition towards greater self-reliance, one in which development partners continue to accompany Lao PDR through a changing financing landscape.
“Graduation is a measure of the progress our country has made, and it calls on us to take greater ownership of our health future,” said HE Mme Baykham Khattiya, Minister of Health. “As we implement the 10th Five-Year Health Sector Development Plan, we are committed to strengthening domestic financing for health and to ensuring that everyone in Lao PDR can access quality services. We value the continued partnership of development partners as we build a more self-reliant health system.”
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Financing a more self-reliant health sector
Participants emphasised the need to make the best use of available resources while steadily increasing domestic financing for health. As concessional assistance declines, sustaining essential services and progress towards universal health coverage will require a larger and more predictable allocation of the national budget to health, together with greater efficiency in how resources are used.
Partners also pointed to opportunities beyond traditional development assistance. Climate finance, in particular, could become an important source of investment for a health system increasingly exposed to climate-related risks, from extreme weather to a shifting burden of disease. To unlock it, the health sector will need to put forward a coherent and well-evidenced case that connects investment in health to measurable climate and development results.
Advancing digital health and responsible use of AI
The meeting also reinforced the importance of digital transformation as an enabler of stronger and more efficient health services. Participants highlighted the need for robust governance, high-quality data, interoperable information systems and a workforce equipped to use digital tools effectively.
Artificial intelligence brings genuine opportunities to extend the reach and quality of care, and genuine risks if it is adopted without adequate safeguards. Partners agreed that future investments should strengthen existing health systems and service delivery while upholding privacy, security and ethical standards and guarding against bias, so that the benefits of digital health reach the whole population.
“Japan welcomes the efforts to make better use of digital technologies in health sector in Lao PDR,” said HE Mr Tsutomu Koizumi, Ambassador of Japan to Lao PDR. “The use of technology is not a goal in itself. What matters is whether it helps strengthen the health system and improve care for the people of the Lao PDR.”
Raising the quality of services to meet rising expectations
As the population’s expectations continue to rise, participants underscored that greater self-reliance must be matched by a sustained improvement in the quality of care. Meeting people’s needs will require safe, effective and people-centred services at every level of the system. A capable and well-supported health workforce remains central to this effort, particularly in rural and remote areas where access to quality services is still a challenge. Priority actions include strengthening workforce planning, training and professional development, improving the recruitment and retention of health workers, and embedding quality standards across health facilities.
“As Lao PDR graduates, its people will rightly expect health services of ever higher quality,” said Dr Timothy Armstrong, WHO Representative to Lao PDR. “The task now is to ensure that greater self-reliance translates into better care, delivered safely and equitably. WHO will continue to stand with Lao PDR throughout this transition, supporting the Government to strengthen its health system and to make every investment count for people’s health.”
From priorities to coordinated support
Looking forward, the Government and development partners agreed on the importance of maintaining close coordination and aligning support behind the national priorities set out in the 10th Five-Year Health Sector Development Plan. As the country manages its transition from Least Developed Country status, particular attention will be given to strengthening domestic health financing, advancing the safe and responsible use of digital health, and ensuring that investments deliver measurable improvements in the quality of services and in health outcomes.
As Lao PDR graduates, the goal its Government and partners share is a plain one: a health system that stands increasingly on its own resources and delivers quality care to every person in the country.
