Health

Laos Gives Unlicensed Beauty Clinics Until November to Obtain Permits Amid Weak Oversight Concerns

The Ministry of Health has ordered unlicensed medical and beauty facilities across Laos to obtain official permits by 30 November, but the directive has raised questions over its delayed public release and how authorities will enforce the deadline. The Ministry issued the directive on 29 May but did not publicize...

Thailand’s HIV Cases Pass 550,000, Laos Reports Rising Infections Among Young People

Thailand has recorded 557,993 cumulative HIV cases, health authorities say, even as new infections...

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

Laos has ordered the immediate suspension of the import and sale of Squishy toys...

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 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...

Vientiane Residents Demand Action Amid Ongoing Water Shortages

Many households in Vientiane are struggling with water supply issues, including shortages and low water pressure. Residents are growing increasingly frustrated, as water disruptions...

Authorities Detect Harmful Chemicals in Fruits at Houaphanh Market

Authorities in Houaphanh Province discovered hazardous chemical substances in fruits sold at a market in Aed district on 13 March. During an inspection, provincial officials...

Plastic Waste Piles Up in Vientiane, Residents Demand Action

Pictures of plastic waste piling up surfaced on Lao social media in early March, as Vientiane residents voiced their frustration on Facebook over the...

Samitivej Hospital Expands Pediatric Care with New Children’s Hospital

Bangkok’s Samitivej Hospital has officially opened its newly expanded International Children’s Hospital at the Samitivej Srinakarin location, marking a key milestone in its commitment...