training

Type of Training – Community based training, Master of Family Medicine, family medicine specialty program

Length of Training – Community based training (unknown), Master of Family Medicine (3 years), family medicine specialty program (2 years)

Year Family Medicine established – 2003

Number of family medicine residents graduating each year – unknown

Number of institutions that offer family medicine – Master of family medicine [Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital (LPPH)]; family medicine specialty program  (Lao University of Health Services in collaboration with the University of Calgary’s faculty of medicine)

practice

Number of family doctors – unknown

Physician to population ratio – 49.97 per 100,000 individuals according to World Bank data (2014).

DALY: 29,205/100,000 individuals (due to all causes).

Life Expectancy:

• Females 2017: 69.0 years

• Males 2017: 66.0 years

Mortality rate 2017:

• Males: 210 per 1,000 male adults.

• Females: 166 per 1,000 female adults.

Infant Immunization-HepB3: N/A

College of Family Physicians (Y or N):

• No

training

There are various types of training available for family medicine. In 2003, a provincial community-based training was developed, and in 2010, a three yearlong Master of family medicine training program was started at the Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital (LPPH) (Arya et al., 2017; Goldman et al., 2015).

A 2 yearlong Family Medicine Specialty training program was created in collaboration with the University of Calgary’s faculty of medicine and the Lao University of Health Services (University of Calgary, 2018).  This postgraduate program was created to provide better services in rural areas (University of Calgary, 2018). Over 150 physicians has graduated in the past 10 years, these physicians now practice medicine in smaller community medical facilities and throughout Laos (University of Calgary, 2018).

“In 2003, the government of Lao created a family medicine program to attract and retain graduates in rural district hospitals as part of a national poverty reduction strategy.   Medical students and Family Medicine residents are sent to Provincial Hospital training sites, to learn community engagement and skills to allow work in remote communities. Second year residents spend six months living and learning and doing research in rural communities.  Since then, over 100 students have graduated from the program, most of whom are working in MOH positions in rural areas.” (Arya et. al., 2017 (2)).

practice