In order to not self-plagiarize, please allow me to share two documents that we developed around this topic and please let me summarize in the following paragraphs and I also added a section for after the military coup. You can also find the two documents here. (1), (2)
Myanmar has made significant progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in recent years. The government has implemented several policies and programs aimed at increasing access to healthcare for the population, including the National Health Plan (NHP) and the Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) scheme.
One of the strengths of the UHC scheme in Myanmar is the focus on community-based approaches, which have been successful in increasing access to healthcare for hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations. The CBHI scheme, for example, has been successful in reaching remote and underserved areas, and has been credited with increasing access to healthcare for low-income and vulnerable populations.
However, the report also highlights several challenges that need to be addressed in order to achieve UHC in Myanmar. One major challenge is the lack of financial protection for the population, as many people still cannot afford the costs of healthcare. The report suggests increasing the coverage and subsidies provided by the CBHI scheme, and the introduction of a national health financing strategy to address this issue.
Another challenge is the limited availability of and access to quality healthcare services, particularly in remote and underserved areas. We recommended strengthening the primary healthcare system and improving the distribution of healthcare facilities and personnel to address this issue.
In addition, there is a lack of awareness among the population about the importance of health insurance and how to access health services, which limits the effectiveness of the UHC scheme. We recommended increasing awareness and education about health insurance and health services to address this issue.
Myanmar has made significant progress towards achieving UHC, but still faces several challenges that need to be addressed to fully achieve it. We recommended increasing financial protection for the population, strengthening the primary healthcare system, improving access to quality healthcare services, and increasing awareness and education about health insurance and health services.
The military coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, has resulted in a significant disruption to the progress made towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the country. The coup has led to a breakdown in the political and economic stability of the country, which has hindered the ability of the government to continue implementing policies and programs aimed at achieving UHC.
It’s reported that the coup has caused a significant disruption to the healthcare system, as many healthcare providers have been arrested or gone into hiding, and many health clinics and hospitals have been closed. Additionally, the coup has caused a significant disruption to the economy, which has made it difficult for many people to afford the costs of healthcare.
The situation in Myanmar is rapidly changing, and it’s hard to predict the long-term impact of the coup on the UHC scheme. However, the coup has created a difficult environment for the government to continue its efforts towards UHC, and it is likely that the progress made towards UHC in recent years may be slowed or even reversed.
It’s important to note that the information regarding the post-coup situation in Myanmar is constantly evolving and changing. The political and economic instability can affect not only the healthcare system but also the entire society.