Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms Phongsamouth Anlavan (right) shakes hands with the Ambassador of Japan to Laos, Mr Koizumi Tsutomu, after exchanging notes concerning project funding.

Japan pledges over JPY 2.8 billion for hospital upgrade in southern Laos

Japan has pledged JPY 2,865 million (over US$18 million) to support the Project for the Improvement of the Referral Hospital in the Southern Region, aimed at upgrading provincial hospitals into fully equipped medical centres.
The support is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the long-standing cooperation between the two nations through a new initiative to improve healthcare services in southern Laos.
A ceremony to mark the exchange of notes concerning the provision of funds for the project took place on Wednesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vientiane.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms Phongsamouth Anlavan and the Ambassador of Japan to Laos, Mr Koizumi Tsutomu, with representatives from relevant ministries and sectors from both countries witnessing the ceremony.
The programme is designed to expand access to critical healthcare, reduce long-distance travel for patients, and enhance the quality of medical services across the four southern provinces.
Key activities include upgrading hospital infrastructure, strengthening technical capacity, providing modern medical equipment, and sharing Japan’s expertise in patient safety and referral systems.
Deputy Minister Phongsamouth expressed heartfelt gratitude to Japan for its continued support over the past seven decades.
She noted that the signing follows the recent official visit to Laos by Her Imperial Highness Princess Aiko of Japan, who toured the Lao Friends Hospital for Children in Luang Prabang province, affirming that public health is a key area of Laos-Japan cooperation.
The provision of funds for the hospital upgrade coincides with the 70th anniversary of Lao-Japanese diplomatic relations and the 60th anniversary of Japan’s first volunteer mission to Laos.
Ambassador Koizumi praised the strong ties between the two countries and reiterated Japan’s desire to continue working closely with Laos to expand cooperation and ensure long-term benefits for the peoples of both nations.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update December 4, 2025)