Myanmar: Myanmar Health Profile

 

The Myanmar government formed a National Health Committee (NHC), the highest level policymaking body for health matters, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. This committee formulated a new National Health Policy in 1993 envisaging adoption of the HFA (Health For All) goal with primary health care as the main approach and provision for sufficient as well as efficient human resources for development of a national health care system, exploring and developing alternative health care financing systems, inter-sectoral coordination and collaboration, intensification and expansion of environmental health activities, promotion of physical medicine and health system research. Further, the policy envisaged enhancement of border areas and rural health development for all-round development. The role of NGOs and private sectors was also upgraded under the new policy.

 

The National Health Plan (1996-2001) was formulated in line with the second five-year, short-term economic plan for 1996-2001 which was formulated by the government. The prioritised health needs of the country, HFA targets and relevant component of the ninth general programme of work of the WHO were the key determinants in the formulation of the plan.

 

In regard to the poverty reduction strategy, the Government initiated many development plans, especially for the hard-to-reach areas, relevant to health and health systems such as the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger by 2015, which is the UN Millennium Development Goal (Goal 1). Since 1988 as many as 164 new bridges were constructed in the country. These bridges can expedite timely referral of ill cases as well as easy access to formal education from primary level up to university level. Transportation of goods across bridges will improve economic conditions of the community, especially the low-income groups. Education and income are directly or indirectly related to health and health system development. Therefore, the 164 new bridges can surely enhance health development in Myanmar.

 

The population of Myanmar is currently estimated at 55.4 millions and is expected to reach 60 millions by 2010. As a result there will be an increasing need to meet the increased demand for food. Additional food requirements will have to be met through crop extensions and land development. This will eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. During 1990-2004, 150 dams have been built to irrigate 20, 93,219 acres of agricultural land. Using 265 river water pumping stations, 2, 82,108 acres of new-sown areas of cropland have also been developed between 1995 and 2002. These dams and river water pumping systems can increase production of food, which will lead to poverty eradication, change in behaviour and lifestyle as also changes in climatic conditions.

 

Health is assigned priority in the national agenda. The Ministry of Health laid down the National Health Plan (2001-2006) under the guidance from the National Health Committee. Objectives of the National Health Plan (2001-2006) are:

 

To be in line with international health systems, the reproductive health project has now been established and the adolescent reproductive health has been given grater focus to alert them and give them a sense of ownership and involvement in the entire project.

 

Water supply and sanitation

About two-thirds of the population have easy access to improved water source with urban and rural coverage being 92.1% and 74.4%, respectively (MICS 2003 Survey). It increased from 32% in 1990 and 71.5% in 2000.

To improve water quality, pot filters were successfully developed by ESD for removing arsenic from water. Moreover, small-scale water treatment plants for pond water in arsenic affected areas as well as for hospital water supply were installed.

In 2003 (National Sanitation Weekly Report), 83.0% of population had access to improved sanitation (rural - 81.0%, urban -87.6%). The access to sanitary latrines has increased over the years.

 

 

The available data reporting health personnel (2005-06) show a national total of 18,725 doctors, 1,870 dental surgeons, 19,922 nurses, 162 dental nurses, 1,771 health assistants, 2,908 lady health visitors, 16,699 midwives, 529 public health supervisors grade (1), 1,359 public health supervisors grade (2) and 889 traditional medical practitioners. The ratio of nurses to doctors is also below the optimum, but now, two nursing universities train skilled nurses under the Department of Medical Sciences.

 

In Myanmar, under the guidance of the Ministry of Health, the Department of Medical Sciences is taking the responsibility of producing all categories of human resources for health care services. They include medical doctors, dental surgeons and other allied health personnel such as paramedics, pharmacists, physiotherapists, radiologists etc. Training for basic health workers, who mainly take care of the health care delivery system in rural areas, are serving about 70% of the population of the country. National Education Promotion Special 4 years Plan (Health Sector) and Myanmar Vision 2030 - the long-term national development plan are activated by producing these health personnel. The Department of Traditional Medicine is also upgraded with well-qualified Traditional Medical Practitioners.

 

The Department of Medical Science has successfully increased the number of students to have effective learning opportunities with modern technologies. As part of the plan, a Medical Education Centre has been opened under the Department of Medical Science to conduct continuing medical education activities. Information Communication Technology (ICT) is also being used in continuing medical education as well as in undergraduate courses. A network system has already been set up to include Department of Medical Resource Centre, University of Medicine (1), New Yangon General Hospital and Yangon General Hospital, University of Medicine (2), North Okkalapa General Hospital, Magway General Hospital within the University of Medicine (Magway) and Mandalay General Hospital within the University of Medicine (Mandalay), respectively.

 

For providing comprehensive and quality health care to the community and for uplifting the health standard of the nation, it is crucial to have sufficient qualified health personnel. Human resources for health development of postgraduate medical education is one of the projects which is envisaged to produce adequate and qualified postgraduates in various discipline according to the needs of the National Health Plan (2001-06).

To ensure equity in health care and reduce discrepancy between different geographical areas, new medical universities have been opened in the Central and Upper Myanmar regions. Now there are four universities of medicine, two each for dental medicine and nursing, two universities of medical technology, two for pharmacy, one university of community health, and 43 training schools for nursing and related services.

 

 

The Government of Union of Myanmar has laid down social objectives “to uplift health, fitness and educational standards for the entire nation”. This is fulfilled by the National Health Policy. The National Health Policy was developed with the initiation and guidance of the National Health Committee in 1993. The National Health Policy places the HFA goal as the prime objective using primary health care approach. The National Health Policy is described here under: