The Pattern of Mobilities and Practices of the Laotian Cross-border Health Care Service Users in the Border Area of Nong Khai – Vientiane

Abstract

The primary objective of this research article is to study the pattern of mobilities and practices of the Laotian cross-border health care service users in the border area of Nong Khai – Vientiane. This is a qualitative research project in which the data have been mainly drawn from interviews of medical personnel and workers in health care units, private medical clinics, government and private hospitals, and Laotian health care service users in Nong Khai, Udon Thani, and Khon Kaen. The results indicate that the mobilities of the cross-border health care service utilities are mobilities interrelated with imbalanced power relations. The differences in people’s mobilities reflect their capability and efficiency to get access to diverse yet inequal mobilities. As demonstrated by the model and characteristics of the Laotians who move across borders in the dimensions of tourism and health care service utility at the government and private hospitals in Nong Khai – Vientiane, the mobilities have taken place under the conditions and influences of economy, desire, profession, status, knowledge, social network, and consumption taste, to name a few factors. There are bigger numbers of Laotians with more advantageous financial status and social network moving across borders for tourism and health care service utilities at the government and private hospitals in Udon Thani and Khon Kaen.