JICA Project for Sustainable Development of Human Resources for Health to Improve MNCH Services, 2nd Floor, Sacombank Building, 044 Haengboun Rd, Ban Haisok, Chanthabouly District, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.
National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1 Toyama Shinjyuku, Tokyo, 162-8655, Japan.
Hum Resour Health. 2017 Aug 7;15(1):51. doi: 10.1186/s12960-017-0215-2.
The introduction of a systematic framework for the licensing of health care professions, which is a crucial step in ensuring the quality of human resources for health (HRH), is still evolving in Lao People's Democraic Republic. The aim of this study was to review and document the evolution of Lao HRH policies and the development of its national licensing system.
A qualitative descriptive case study methodology was applied to document and describe how Lao People's Democratic Republic laid the foundation for the development of a licensing system. The results demonstrate that Lao People's Democratic Republic is currently in the process of transitioning the focus of its HRH policies from the quantity and deployment of services to remote areas to improvements in the quality of services. The key events in the process of developing the licensing system are as follows: (1) the systematic development of relevant policies and legislation, (2) the establishment of responsible organizations and the assignment of responsible leaders, (3) the acceleration of development efforts in response to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Mutual Recognition Arrangement for standard qualifications, (4) the strengthening of educational systems for fostering competent health care professionals, (5) the introduction of a 3-year compulsory service component in rural areas for newly recruited government servants, and (6) the introduction of a requirement to obtain a professional health care certificate to work in a private hospital. The Lao Ministry of Health (MOH) has endorsed a specific strategy for licensing to realize this system.
The need for licensing systems has increased in recent years due to regional economic integration and a shift in policy toward achieving universal health coverage. A national licensing system would be a significant milestone in health system development, helping to ensure the competency of health care professionals by means of a national examination, continuing professional development, and the revoking of licenses when appropriate.
在老挝人民民主共和国，引入医疗保健专业人员许可的系统框架仍然在不断发展，这是确保卫生人力资源（HRH）质量的关键步骤。本研究旨在审查和记录老挝人力资源政策的演变及其国家许可制度的发展。
采用定性描述性案例研究方法，记录和描述老挝人民民主共和国如何为发展许可制度奠定基础。结果表明，老挝人民民主共和国目前正将其人力资源政策的重点从服务的数量和部署转移到偏远地区，转变为提高服务质量。发展许可制度的关键事件如下：（1）系统地制定相关政策和法规；（2）建立负责组织并指定负责领导；（3）加快发展努力，以应对东盟互认安排标准资格；（4）加强培养有能力的卫生保健专业人员的教育系统；（5）为新招募的公务员引入在农村地区进行为期 3 年的义务服务部分；（6）引入在私人医院工作需获得专业医疗保健证书的要求。老挝卫生部（MOH）已经批准了一项具体的许可战略来实现这一制度。
近年来，由于区域经济一体化和政策向实现全民健康覆盖的转变，对许可制度的需求有所增加。国家许可制度将是卫生系统发展的一个重要里程碑，通过国家考试、继续专业发展以及在适当情况下吊销许可证，有助于确保卫生保健专业人员的能力。
