CHAI began partnering with the government of Lao PDR in 2014, supporting the country’s supply chain system reforms. Today, because of the program, nearly all health centers across the country have access to real-time stock data for the supplies needed to treat HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and reproductive health, as well as other essential medicines, helping improve the quality of care for all. CHAI has also partnered with the Ministry of Health to roll out an integrated vaccine outreach program and support the country’s transition from Gavi. These efforts have led to a 28 percent reduction in vaccine stockouts.

Together with the government, we have made enormous strides toward the country’s health goals, including the goal to eliminate malaria by 2025— since 2014, malaria cases have dropped by 99 percent. In response to COVID-19, we began collaborating with the government to strengthen national oxygen systems. In 2023, CHAI facilitated US$2.7 million in capital investments for pressure swing adsorption (PSA) plants and oxygen concentrators, doubling the country’s oxygen production capacity. With CHAI guidance, efforts in bi-directional screening for COVID-19 and TB have led to up to a 3x increase in the number of patients screened and tested for TB in two target provinces. We co-led work on updating the National HIV Management Guidelines and, in 2022, achieved a 94 percent transition to the best-in-class medication (TLD) for adults and a 40 percent transition to the best first-line treatment for children. In a joint effort with the Ministry of Health and partners, we have increased the geographical coverage of health facilities from 43 percent in 2020 to 94 percent in 2022.

In the next 1-2 years, we aim to intensify support for primary healthcare and systems strengthening while maintaining a focus on vertical programs where needed to ensure gains are not lost.