After the current health system being collapsed due to the brutal military coup, there are 3 main concepts to adopt in order to resuscitate the whole health system so that a full-blown federal health system could be effectively developed.
Myanmar’s Health System
Myanmar’s health care system is uncoordinated, fragmented and highly centralized. This is time to change it towards a more federalized system.
Summary points:
(1) Myanmar has been a centralized country throughout despite some improvements in the last decade.
(2) Despite the coup and its consequences, we could take this adversity as an opportunity to enhance the very meaningful structural changes not only to the political system but also to the health system.
(3) There are three dimensions to focus in a federal health system: governance, financing and administrative dimensions.
(4) Three Key policy considerations
- To decentralize the whole system so that concerns at the state/region level are addressed fully with efficiency
- To solve the challenge of inadequate budget and finance for healthcare by acknowledging that the need to grant state/region governments budgetary authority – their ability to seek funding, propose revenue options and decide on how and where the funds will be spent; and
- To address local needs and concerns, and the opportunity to develop local community commitments especially in terms of empowerment of state/region and local authority in dealing with issues unique to their localities.
(5) After addressing this 3 key points, it is also essential to guarantee them that this reformed system will provide quality, affordable and effective primary healthcare, particularly for the country’s poorest and most vulnerable population.
(6) Last not least, the most important thing could be to understand the nature and characteristics of existing health systems developed by ethnic organizations in their respective areas and build trust with them (EHOs).
Published on 17 May 2021
Last Updated: 17 May 2021