In February 2025, stakeholders from across the eye health sector in Laos were convened in Vientiane for a two-day event titled the Laos Eye Care System Situation Analysis and Systems Leadership Workshop. Meeting participants included Ministry of Health officials, World Health Organization (WHO) representatives, the Laos Eye Care Working Group (LECWG), the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and local partners. The key objective of the event was to shape the road map for an updated National Eye Health Strategy.
This event kicked off the official launch of the "WHO Eye Care Situation Analysis Tool" (ECSAT) findings report in Laos. This tool is designed to evaluate the state of eye care services, identify systemic gaps, and inform national planning efforts in line with global eye health targets.
Dr Fabrizio D’Esposito, the Western Pacific's IAPB Regional Head, stressed the importance of this work: “The ECSAT workshop in Laos is a critical step in strengthening evidence-based planning for eye health in the region. By bringing together key stakeholders to reflect on the findings, we’ve laid the groundwork for a National Strategic Plan for Eye Health that is rooted in local data, aligned with health system priorities, and responsive to the needs of the population. The ECSAT has proven to be a valuable tool in identifying system strengths and gaps, and in guiding a clear path forward for action.”
During the course of the two-day meeting, participants engaged in breakout sessions to discuss the key results from the ECSAT and to identify opportunities to inform strategic planning for the future. Engaging local actors in systems leadership was a key goal of the workshop to ensure that any approaches developed to tackle systemic obstacles to eye care delivery were jointly created.
The event also put a spotlight on insights shared by the Fred Hollows Foundation on Cambodia’s eye care reform journey, offering lessons learned for overcoming systemic challenges.
The results of this meeting will shape the development of the "2025 National Eye Health Strategic Plan" which aims to be in line with WHO's "Integrated People-Centred Eye Care" (IPEC) approach and the UN's call to action, "Vision for Everyone."
As the Vientiane workshop concluded, the next steps begin. With strengthened collaboration and shared objectives, Laos aims to improve access to affordable and quality eye care services across the country.
Photos: WHO / Andreas Mueller; IAPB / Moi Youn