GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF HEALTH WORKFORCES IN LAO PDR

The aim of this study was to establish a health management information system (HMIS) using GIS technology that concerns the distribution of health workforces in Lao PDR for management decision support. Data were primarily obtained from the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Planning and Investments, Lao PDR. Microsoft Access was used to create the database and manage all attribute data, and GIS applications were utilized to display the geographical distribution and cluster areas of health workforce density in 2011-2012 at district and provincial levels in Lao PDR. The results suggested that there was a geographical imbalance in health workforce within the country. Vientiane capital had the highest number of medical doctors; Attapue and Sekong had highest number of nurses and midwives among all provinces of Lao PDR. However, the numbers of all health workforces were still lower than standard threshold. Furthermore, the cluster analysis showed that there was no significant cluster of health workforces at provincial level, but was significant at the district level. Districts in central region seemed to have high clusters of medical doctors and midwives compared to Northern and Southern regions; whereas, high clusters of nurses were found in the Southern regions. The heath information database developed by this study would be valuable for Lao health management. The Ministry of Health, Lao PDR should establish collaboration among all departments for better data reporting system. GIS technology can illustrate the health resources in Lao PDR, which will be benefit for decision making and planning in the future.