The gradual introduction of a decentralised cost-recovery system over the past 10 years means there is no universal access to quality healthcare in Laos. Access to treatment for people with HIV/AIDS has been particularly lacking.

When Médecins Sans Frontières opened its HIV/AIDS project in Savannakhet in 2001, there was little recognition of this disease in Laos. The medical centre became the first and only in the country to offer care for people with HIV. Along with providing urgently needed treatment, the project aimed to sensitise the general public and the authorities to the existence of HIV/AIDS and the need for specialised care.

Médecins Sans Frontières is progressively working towards a handover of all HIV activities to the Lao authorities. Most medications are supplied by the Global Fund and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are becoming involved in treatment and there have been positive developments within the government. This represents a major improvement compared to previously, when HIV/AIDS was not even officially recognised. However, technical capacity and training infrastructure remain inadequate, making further external assistance from donors and development NGOs still necessary. Gaps in costs of laboratory testing and certain medications still exist and will need to be covered if access to treatment is to be assured.

Médecins Sans Frontières has worked in Laos since 1989