Marks of cooperation

In signing health cooperation with Phongsaly, Oudomxay, and Luang Prabang provinces of Laos, Điện Biên province committed to supporting and performing well the healthcare for the people in neighboring localities; promptly assisting with issues within its capacity. Besides the health sector, Điện Biên also coordinates and supports cooperation with neighboring localities in other fields, creating a clear imprint in consolidating the special Vietnam - Laos friendship. In the 2022 - 2025 period, health cooperation between Điện Biên and the three Northern Laos provinces achieved comprehensive results, especially in disease prevention and medical examination and treatment. The two sides coordinated to effectively control the disease situation in the border area, ensuring no major epidemics occurred.

The Điện Biên health system has become a reliable address for the people of the neighboring country. Statistics show that health facilities in Điện Biên have received 3,186 visits from people of the three Northern Laos provinces for medical examination and treatment, of which 1,403 visits were for inpatient treatment. Notably, patients from Laos receive medical care equivalent to that of Điện Biên residents.

Conversely, Điện Biên residents also receive examination and treatment like local people in the Northern Laos provinces. Bounphet Tansouphanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Health of Phongsaly province, affirmed: “Vietnamese citizens coming to the province for business and commerce who need medical examination and treatment are received and receive the same benefits as local residents. Both sides have actively implemented the contents of the cooperation memorandum, achieving important results in the health work of the two provinces, contributing to the socio-economic development of the province in general and the development of the health sector of the two provinces in particular.”

In the field of human resource training, Điện Biên has newly recruited 73 students and graduated 172 students for the three Northern Laos provinces, with a total cost exceeding VND 7.9 billion. The Điện Biên provincial Department of Health organized short-term training for 10 officials from Phongsaly and Oudomxay provinces in specialties such as: Emergency care, general internal/external medicine, obstetrics... For Luang Prabang province, in the 2022 - 2025 period, 6 Lao students studied in Điện Biên and 45 Lao students graduated from the health sector in Điện Biên. Souphaphone Phanavanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Health of Luang Prabang province, evaluated: “Students from Luang Prabang province studying at Điện Biên Medical College have received attention and favorable conditions in study and daily life; the training is systematic, progressive, and quality, and they receive full benefits according to the signed regulations.”

Regarding material support, Điện Biên has stood side-by-side with its neighbor during the most difficult times. The province supported Covid-19 epidemic prevention supplies worth over VND 598 million for 6 Northern Laos provinces, including Phongsaly, Oudomxay, and Luang Prabang. In 2024, when the Phonthong district Hospital (Luang Prabang province) was inaugurated, Điện Biên province presented 32 types of common medicines and many medical equipment, with a total value of over VND 450 million.

Strengthening in-depth cooperation

According to the signed memorandum of understanding, in the 2026 - 2028 period, the health sector of Điện Biên and the Northern Laos provinces will continue to strengthen cooperation in 4 areas: Disease prevention and control, medical examination and treatment, human resource training, and pharmaceutical work. Điện Biên will continue to examine and treat patients from neighboring Laos at the province’s health facilities, and they will enjoy the same benefits as patients in Điện Biên province. The Điện Biên provincial Department of Health will send experts and medical examination/treatment teams to support the three Northern Laos provinces; and continue to assist the health sector of the Northern Laos provinces in training specialized personnel, technicians, and utilizing medical equipment. In pharmaceutical work, the Northern Laos provinces will create favorable conditions for pharmaceutical companies in Điện Biên province to research the market for setting up branches or representative offices to conduct medicine business in compliance with pharmaceutical management regulations and the laws of each country.

Given the actual needs, Souphaphone Phanavanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Health of Luang Prabang province, proposed that Điện Biên continue to support training for technology transfer (surgery, anesthesia, traditional medicine production...), provide more support for medical equipment, especially for the Phonthong district Hospital and some basic testing equipment for district hospitals; and requested Điện Biên to sponsor the construction of an additional operating room at the Viengkham district Hospital and other districts, along with surgical equipment; and support vaccines for Rota virus prevention.

The Điện Biên provincial Department of Health responded that it would advise the provincial People’s Committee and the Ministry of Health to provide support (within their authority) and will strive and mobilize resources through socialization to accompany and support the health sector of the Northern Laos provinces.

Phạm Giang Nam, Director of the Điện Biên provincial Department of Health, affirmed: The memorandum of understanding for the 2026 - 2028 period opens up prospects for deeper cooperation, for the health and benefit of the people on both sides of the border. With a solid foundation of cooperation, health activities between Điện Biên and the three Northern Laos provinces will continue to expand, contributing to cultivating the special Vietnam - Laos solidarity, jointly moving towards the goal of better public healthcare.