Opening speech was made by Dr. Bounkouang Phichit, Vice Minister of Health, Lao PDR on the Conference on Health and Social Protection in Lane Xang Hotel, Vientiane, on Oct. 9, 2008. Following is the speech.

Distinguished Prof. Dr. Boungnong Boupha,
Director General of the National Institute of Public Health

Prof. Yang Hongwei,
Deputy Director of the China Health Economics Institute

Dr. Gerald Bloom,
POVILL project leader,

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to welcome all honorable guests and participants from national and international organizations for attending this conference today. It is also my great honor and pleasure to be invited in this scientific conference. Therefore, on this meaningful occasion, may I express my sincere thank to the organizer of this conference.

As we all know the topic of this conference today is “Health and Social Protection: Meeting the needs of the poor”. It is an interesting and informative topic which is related to the real situation of many low income countries.
I have been informed that during this conference POVILL researchers will present the preliminary findings of POVILL study in Cambodia, China and Lao PDR. This is a good opportunity for researchers of the three countries to have chance to share experiences.

Moreover, it will have a signing ceremony of the MoU between the National Institute of Public Health and China Health Economics Institute which is a good sign for the collaboration of the two institutes in terms of training and research. In fact, the relationship between the two governments China and Lao PDR is already tight and well developed. As a result, the collaboration and cooperation between two institutes will be strengthening our friendship and solidarity of the two countries.

In the afternoon of today, it will have also the launch of new book from Institute of Tropical Medicine which is the product from the experiences of the three countries concerning health and social protection.

On this nice opportunity, on the behalf of Policy Makers of the MoH, I would like to congratulate all POVILL researchers for their efforts and hard working through the implementation of the research project and today they can present their preliminary findings to us.

On this occasion, may I declare the conference of officially open and wish the conference a great success, fruitful and productive. THANK YOU.