Cross-border patient movement from the Lao PDR and the interplay between social networks and economic and cultural capital: A qualitative study

Healthcare is most often examined within the confines of nation-states. Such an analysis, however, is not necessarily indicative of reality, with people often travelling across borders for healthcare. This paper explores cross-border travel for medical care by patients in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The paper shows that while travelling across borders for medical care is not new, how, why and who travels across borders have changed in tandem with changes in the political and socio-economic landscape. The paper is based on a review of the literature and qualitative interviews with patients who had crossed the border for planned healthcare (N=43), Laotian medical officials working in public institutions (N=5) and international health advisors (N=6). Patients came from different districts, a range of socio-economic backgrounds, had crossed borders for planned healthcare in the last twoyears and, based on key informant subjective assessments, were information-rich respondents. The study reveals how Lao cross-border patients creatively use the cultural and social resources at their disposal to obtain the healthcare they desire. In particular, it draws attention to the interplay between social, economic and cultural capital, and habitus in navigating access to transnational healthcare.