Vientiane:The Lao government held a consultation meeting focusing on the draft committee for the National Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Action Plan 2026-2035. The meeting was led by Viengxay Vilavong, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Health's Finance Department, alongside Dr. Achala Upendra Jayatilleke, Acting Coordinator and Health Systems Development Team Lead at the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Laos.

According to Lao News Agency, the consultation saw participation from representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Ministry of Health departments, hospitals, research institutes, and other relevant government agencies. The meeting underscored the necessity for a multi-sectoral approach to tackle NCDs, which present major public health and socio-economic challenges requiring solutions beyond just the health sector.

The Ministry of Health is spearheading the creation of a 10-year national action plan in partnership with various ministries, development partners, civil society organizations, and local communities. This plan aims to set up a coordinated national framework for the prevention, early detection, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care of NCDs. It will delineate the duties of government agencies and other stakeholders, establish measurable targets, set implementation timelines, and determine resource needs and sustainable financing through 2035.

The consultation offered a platform for relevant agencies and partners to evaluate the proposed committee structure and operational strategies, contributing to the foundational steps necessary for the coordinated execution of the national plan.