Health

Trendy ‘Squishy’ Toys Suspended in Laos Over Chemical Safety Concerns

Laos has ordered the immediate suspension of the import and sale of Squishy toys nationwide after authorities warned that some may contain hazardous chemicals that pose health risks, particularly to children. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued the order on 28 July, instructing provincial industry and commerce departments across...

Former MRC Chief Anoulak Kittikhoun Named First Lao Head of Mekong Institute

Former Mekong River Commission (MRC) Chief Executive Officer Anoulak Kittikhoun has been appointed Executive...

Laos Turns to Public-Private Partnership to Tighten Product Quality Controls

Laos has launched a new state-backed company to inspect and certify the quality of...

Laos Suspends Vientiane Private Hospital Suspected of Organ Trafficking

The Ministry of Health announced the immediate closure of BLL Hospital after a Taiwanese...

Laos Must Spend More on Healthcare as Costs Rise, World Bank Says

Healthcare in Laos is under growing financial pressure, and the country can no longer...

Lao-Thai Health Project Trains More Than 1,170 Professionals Under Princess Sirindhorn’s Initiative

Over 1,170 Lao health professionals have been trained through a long-running initiative led by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand. Now nurturing a new...

Bokeo Seafood Inspection Reveals Formalin Use, Crackdown Follows

Authorities discovered the presence of formalin, a hazardous chemical derived from formaldehyde, in frozen seafood during an inspection on 8 April at several markets...

Salavanh Opens New Blood Transfusion Center with Swiss Red Cross Support

On March 20, the Lao Red Cross (LRC), in collaboration with the Swiss Red Cross (SRC), inaugurated a new Blood Transfusion Center in Salavanh...

‘Attitude Mom’ Marks Decade with New Hands-Free Breast Pump

New parents in Laos are increasingly turning to technology to support breastfeeding, making the process more convenient and manageable. Over the past decade, Thai...

Laos Reports 360 New HIV Infections in First Three Months of 2025

Laos has reported 360 new HIV cases in the first three months of 2025, continuing a rising trend from the previous year. The country...

Saving Lives while Building Trust: How Laos Assistance is Transforming Medical Care in Laos

When a 3-year-old girl with a skull fracture was rushed to a Lao hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no other options. The...