Lao People's Democratic Republic : Strengthening Capacity for Health Sector Governance Reforms

Project Name

Strengthening Capacity for Health Sector Governance Reforms

Project Number

47137-004

Country / Economy

• Lao People's Democratic Republic

Project Status

Closed

Project Type / Modality of Assistance

• Technical Assistance

Source of Funding / Amount

TA 9190-LAO: Strengthening Capacity for Health Sector Governance Reforms

Source	Amount
Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific	US$ 2.00 million

Strategic Agendas

• Inclusive economic growth

Drivers of Change

• Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
• Governance and capacity development
• Knowledge solutions
• Partnerships
• Private sector development

Sector / Subsector

• Health /

Gender

Effective gender mainstreaming

Description

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

Impact

Universal health coverage achieved by 2025 (Health Sector Reform Strategy)

Project Outcome

Description of Outcome

Key components of subprogram 2 of the Health Sector Governance Program implemented

Progress Toward Outcome

The CDTA team, with the cooperation of MOH, MOF and MPI, worked on the achievement of all Subprogram 2 triggers by January 2018.

HSR annual implementation plan for 2018 submitted to NCHSR in November 2017. NHI survey on-going. Annual health workforce plans for 18 provinces to be completed by 2018. All provinces submit quarterly financial reports as per guideline.

Implementation Progress

Description of Project Outputs

Health sector reform planning, monitoring, and implementation improved

Implementation of the HEF and free MNCH schemes improved

Human resources management capacity strengthened

Health sector financial management system strengthened

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

Output 1: The National Committee for HSR convened on 9 Dec 2017, reviewed HSR progress, and approved the HSR plan for 2018. The CDTA team worked with the various MOH departments to prepare the HRH and Finance roadmaps, which were approved by the Minister of Health. Governance roadmap is under review.

Output 2: Lao PDR has expanded its national health insurance (NHI) scheme to include the HEF and free MNCH schemes. NHI will provide free care for the poor, mothers, and children under the age of 5 years by exempting them from co-payment. Out of 148 districts, 141 districts reported free services provided to the poor, 143 districts reported free services to children under 5, and virtually all 148 districts reported free services to pregnant women.

Output 3: DHP has completed training and follow-up sessions on data entry and use of the web-based Personnel Management Information System (PMIS) for all provincial and district focal persons. CDTA consultants have also assisted to improve offline MOH database for health sector staff. DHP is also working on the development of health sector workforce plans for 12 provinces. 6 additional provinces are planned for 2018. International and national consultants are providing support in the finalization of health facility profiles and workplans.

Output4: MOF requested all sectors, including MOH, to adopt a paper and excel-based "double entry" accounting system in compliance with the Accounting Law of 2014. MOH, through DOF, has conducted training in all provinces, which will cascade training to districts for consistency across the health sector. Good progress has also been made in improving the quality and timeliness of quarterly expenditure reports from PHOs to DOF. National Health Accounts for 2013 - 2016 (4 fiscal years) was approved by the Minister of Health and was disseminated at a national workshop in December 2017.

All consultants international and national consultants under the CDTA have been engaged and mobilized. Inputs of a few international and national consultants will be extended to continue providing support to MOH.

Minor change to: (a) include tasks of the international MOH Budget Reform Specialist under the TOR of the international Public Finance Management Specialist; (b) engage a national Education Development and Regulation Specialist through the consulting firm; and (c) revise selection method for the national Health Facility Accounting System Specialist from individual to through the consulting firm, approved on 15 March 2017.

Geographical Location

Nation-wide

Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects

Environmental Aspects

Involuntary Resettlement

Indigenous Peoples

Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation

During Project Design

During Project Implementation

Business Opportunities

Consulting Services

The TA will support 10 international consultants and 4 national consultants for a total of 159 person-months. To ensure high quality of inputs and adjustment to the reforms sequencing consultants will be recruited by ADB as individual consultants, in accordance with the Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2013, as amended from time to time).

Contact

Responsible ADB Officer

Sato, Azusa

Responsible ADB Department

Southeast Asia Department

Responsible ADB Division

Human and Social Development Division, SERD

Executing Agencies

Ministry of Health

Timetable

Concept Clearance

17 Jun 2015

Fact Finding

19 May 2015 to 22 May 2015

MRM

-

Approval

29 Sep 2016

Last Review Mission

-

Last PDS Update

25 Sep 2018

Funding

TA 9190-LAO