In the decades, the cancer  epidemic in Myanmar is growing at a rapid pace. In 2016, 2.9 per cent of the deaths and 2.9 per cent of cases are linked to cancer, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports.

Dr. Myint Htwe said, in 2019-2020 fiscal year, the ministry has prioritized five major tasks—prevention and control of non-infectious diseases, school health programs, health awareness program, physical exercise, educative and inspection programs on food and medicine in the market. On the other hand, the Central Infectious Diseases will work on the fair allocation of budgets and the systematic operations for the prevention and control of seasonal influenza, Vaccine derived Polio and emergency healthcare works, on a priority basis,” he added. 

An estimated 41 million population die of non-infectious diseases around the globe a year. It accounts for around 71 per cent of the total number. Among them around 15 million people aged between 30 and 69 are. About 85 per cent of untimely deaths are from the low-income developing countries. The root causes of deaths are linked to heart disease, cancer, chronic lung diseases and diabetics. 

Currently, Mekong Region countries are making cooperation on disease control and  research as the outbreaks of non-infectious diseases are rapidly growing. 

According to the WHO’s report,  around 60 per cent of deaths in Myanmar are due to non-infectious diseases.