The new national health policy will prioritize nine sectors including the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), according to the coordination meeting on redrafting the national health policy in Nay Pyi Taw on October 18.

Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr. Myint Htwe said: “The existing national health policy was drafted in 1993. It is required to redraft the new national health policy compatible with the changing politics, economy, health and other circumstances. The leading committee for redrafting the national health policy has been formed. In addition, the work committee and advisory teams will be formed. The new policy is expected to complete in early 2020.”

For sustainable development of health sector in Myanmar, the new national health policy needs to meet the standards set for Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the  Myanmar Healthcare Expectations 2030 and the regional and universal health objectives. It also needs to study other countries’ health policies including neighbouring countries.

The nine priority sectors covered in the new health policy are: promoting health knowledge, prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, school health, patient safety, practical researches, turning out qualified and ethnical medical experts, government-private cooperation, development of health and hospital information system and physical exercise as medicine.

The ministry will put health knowledge about diseases and health problems in the 2020 calendars. In a bid to promote knowledge on prevention of NCDs among youths, the ministry plans to implement the youth health plan in six townships in Yangon Region. The plan will be jointly implemented by Astra Zeneca and Plan International Myanmar under a three-year contract from 2019 to 2021.