In the current fiscal year, the Ministry of Health and Sports allowed Ks 120 billion for the purchase of medicines and Ks 64 billion for medical equipment at 1,144 public hospitals nationwide, said Dr. Myint Htwe, Union Minister for Health and Sports. 

“The ministry has 1,144 hospitals from 16-bedded to 2000-bedded ones. During six months, the US-based Direct Relief donates three-million-worth medicines for cancer, hypertension and diabetes. It is very beneficial to the people,” he added. 

The ministry has drafted the national-level strategic implementation plan for the purchase and distribution of medicines and medical equipment in order to systematically carry out the calculation, buying, storage and distribution of medicines and medical equipment. 

The public hospitals gave medical services to about three million in-patients and about 12 million out-patients, according to the minister. 

According to the WHO’s estimate in 2018, about 60 per cent of deaths were due to non-infectious diseases. Around half of the deaths of hospitalized patients between 2014 and 2016 were linked to non-infectious diseases and related health problems, according to the ministry.  

The ministry plans to open the separate medial departments for heart, kidney and liver diseases. In addition, the ministry is upgrading the hospitals in Thanlyin, Hlaingthayar, Insein, North Okkalapa and Thingangyun Townships. 

Yangon region has 83 hospitals—14 specialist hospitals, three teaching hospitals, two 500-bedded hospitals, four 200-bedded hospitals, one 100-bedded hospital, 11 50-bedded hospitals and 11 25-bedded hospitals, four 16-bedded hospitals and 33 station hospitals.