VIENTIANE, LAOS – A transformative healthcare partnership officially commenced operations on Thursday with the national launch of the Mekong Children’s Heart Care Project (2025-2027). This ambitious tripartite collaboration brings together Laos’ Ministry of Health, the Mekong Institute, and China’s prestigious Fuwai Hospital under the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.
Financed through China’s Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, this initiative represents a concrete implementation of the Global Development Initiative. The program specifically targets congenital heart disease, which remains a leading cause of childhood mortality across Laos and Cambodia.
The comprehensive project framework encompasses multiple strategic components: establishing national-level screening systems, introducing advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies, and substantially enhancing the professional capabilities of healthcare providers in both nations. Over its two-year implementation period, the initiative aims to achieve measurable impact through screening at least 10,000 children nationwide, providing complete treatment cycles for no fewer than 30 diagnosed patients, and training over 110 medical professionals.
Additional capacity-building measures include specialized fellowship programs at Fuwai Hospital for Lao medical specialists, complemented by the donation of critical medical equipment including ultrasound machines and essential supplies.
Khampasong Theppanya, Director-General of Laos’ Department of Health and Rehabilitation, emphasized the project’s dual significance: “This initiative delivers urgent care to children with congenital heart conditions, particularly those in remote regions, while simultaneously strengthening our national healthcare infrastructure through professional development and evidence-based policy formation.”
The director-general further acknowledged China’s substantial support, noting that it “reflects China’s profound commitment to our enduring bilateral friendship and its sustained dedication to advancing Laos’ healthcare sector.”
Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Executive Director of the Mekong Institute, characterized the project as a milestone in regional cooperation that “fortifies Lao PDR’s technical capacity while providing joint support for Cambodia, ultimately benefiting local communities and fostering more equitable healthcare systems throughout the Mekong region.”
Duo Lin, Fuwai Hospital’s representative and project liaison, confirmed the initiative’s alignment with both China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly objectives targeting reduced mortality among children under five and adolescents.