Primary Health Care Expansion Project

Lao PDR, 2002-2004, Ministry of Health, Lao PDR/ ASDB

Providing expertise and project management for the Primary Health Care (PHC) Expansion Project to expend the PHC and improve the PHC delivery system.

Background:

In 1999, the Government of Lao PDR requested the Asian Development Bank to support further expansion of PHC in the 8 northern provinces to fill gaps where no PHC services existed; and to improve the PHC delivery system by standardizing management systems and developing effective financing mechanisms.  As a result, the second ADB loan to the health sector, the Primary Health Care Expansion Project, was designed jointly by the MOH and ADB.  The loan agreement was signed in November 2000. 

 

The objective of the Project:

The objective of the Project was to contribute to the Government's goals of improving the health status and reducing poverty of the Lao PDR population by (i) expanding and improving the quality of PHC in the northern region, and (ii) strengthening the institutional capacity for PHC. The Project targeted women and children, ethnic minorities, and the rural poor by (i) increasing their physical, social, and financial access to essential services; (ii) focusing on interventions and diseases that affect them disproportionally; and (iii) improving the quality of services for these groups. Priority was given to cost-effective interventions benefiting women and children.

 

Services provided:

Expert inputs,

• Project management;
• Backstopping;
• Providing advice on:

1. Health sector Training
2. Health sector Management
3. Health sector Financing
4. Health sector Monitoring and Evaluation
5. Project Management
6. Home office backstopping