28/08/2026
Formulation Studies on Cancer Screening and Management in Lao PDR:
From August 2 to 8, 2026, the National Cancer Center (NCC) of Lao PDR, together with the National Cancer Center of the Republic of Korea and supported by the KOFIH Lao PDR office, conducted a joint Formulation Study to assess the current landscape of cancer care, screening, and management in Lao PDR.
The initiative aimed to identify critical gaps in healthcare infrastructure and inform future Ministry of Health policies, placing special emphasis on women's health, particularly cervical and breast cancer.
At the central level in Vientiane, the assessment team visited key healthcare institutions, including Mahosot Hospital, Setthathirath Hospital, Mittapab Hospital, and Children’s Hospital. The team held in-depth discussions with the Ministry of Health’s Department of Healthcare and Rehabilitation (DHR), the University of Health Sciences (UHS), and the Radio-Therapy Center to map out long-term strategic goals.
To gain a clear perspective at both the macro and micro levels, the delegation also traveled to Oudomxay province. Meetings with Provincial Health Management, the Northern Hub-Hospital, and District Health Offices shed light on how local cultural diversity affects health education, prevention, and timely care-seeking behavior.
Key Insights from the Assessment:
• Specialist Shortages: Severe gaps in pathologists and oncologists result in biopsy delays of up to one month.
• Infrastructure Bottlenecks: Pediatric radiotherapy remains unavailable, and central hospitals depend heavily on UHS for advanced diagnostics.
• Financial Barriers: Out-of-pocket expenses, such as 900,000 LAK per chemotherapy session, place a heavy burden on vulnerable families.
• Regional Logistics: Transport restrictions on sending tissue samples from provinces like Oudomxay to Vientiane hamper early detection efforts.
Under the project, the findings from this study will serve as a valuable foundation for targeted capacity building to strengthen cancer care across Lao PDR.
