Health as a factor in population well-being

In addition to having completed the Health and social protection programme in Senegal and formulating a new programme focused on public health and hospital services in Cambodia, in 2025, LuxDev continued its efforts in this sector in Kosovo, Mongolia and Laos, combining infrastructure modernisation, skills development and prevention to ensure equitable access to quality care.

In Kosovo, the second phase of the health sector support programme focuses both on strengthening sector governance and on modernising healthcare, infrastructure and hospital equipment.

In 2025, it reached a significant milestone with the installation of a new catheterisation laboratory (CathLab) within the cardiology clinic of the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo in Pristina. Nearly 400 m² were renovated and equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Technical assistance and training provided in partnership with the Institut de Chirurgie Cardiaque et de Cardiologie Interventionnelle (the National Institute of Cardiac Surgery and Interventional Cardiology in Luxembourg) will help healthcare professionals use this facility to its full potential. The new CathLab will enable to carry out more than 1,000 diagnostic and interventional per year, reducing waiting times, improving the management of cardiac emergencies, and limiting the need for costly transfers abroad or to private clinics.

Since 2001, Luxembourg Development Cooperation has been supporting Mongolia in tackling cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death in the country. In 2025, the Cardiology, cardio-surgery and telemedicine project continued to expand by strengthening surgical capacities and improving the quality of cardiac care nationwide. Significant efforts were also made in prevention: thanks to harmonised processes, as well as in-person and online training sessions attended by more than 850 doctors, 20,260 people from 19 provinces and 9 districts benefited from a 10-year cardiovascular disease risk assessment, enabling earlier detection and faster access to treatment.

A new project currently under formulation aims to respond in an even more structured way to the scale of the cardiovascular challenge in Mongolia. It involves the establishment of a modern national cardiovascular centre within Shastin Hospital in Ulaanbaatar, bringing together prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and research within a single state-of-the-art facility. Beyond the construction and equipment of the building, the initiative will focus on skills development, the digitalisation of services, and operational readiness to ensure high-quality, patient-centred care.

In Laos, the Health and nutrition programme aims to improve access to quality and affordable healthcare services, particularly in the sectors of nutrition and reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health in the provinces of Bokeo, Bolikhamxay, Vientiane and Khammouane.

In 2025, it made a significant contribution to tackling the shortage of specialists and the uneven distribution of skills faced by the country. By awarding short-term scholarships, it enabled 97 healthcare workers to undertake specialised clinical training, ensuring their continuous professional development and the acquisition of advanced skills that their hospitals urgently needed.Fifty-four long-term scholarships were also granted, which will allow the beneficiary healthcare professionals to obtain nationally and internationally recognised qualifications and to enhance both their technical skills and their ability to take on leadership roles.

The programme also encourages peer-to-peer training to facilitate the transfer of skills at district and health centre levels, thereby ensuring equitable access to better quality healthcare.

On 22 August 2025, in Ulaanbaatar, LuxDev and Shastin Hospital signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening South-South cooperation between Mongolia and Laos in the sector of cardiovascular care. The parties plan to promote the structured sharing of knowledge and experience between specialists from both countries, as well as to deliver joint training sessions in both capitals. Building on the successful deployment of telemedicine in Mongolia, the initiative also aims to introduce a model for remote cardiovascular care in Laotian hospitals.

Several initiatives have already been launched under this agreement. Initial specialised training on the implantation of pacemakers was organised in Ulaanbaatar, strengthening the skills of Laotian cardiologists and nurses through practical exercises, clinical mentoring, and knowledge sharing. Advanced training on electrocardiograms and ischaemic heart diseases was also delivered at Mittaphab Hospital in Vientiane.

Similar activities will continue in 2026 and 2027, contributing to improving the accessibility and quality of Laos’ healthcare system, while offering Mongolian specialists new opportunities for professional exchange in a variety of clinical settings.