According to the report published today, Myanmar’s health system showed real reasons for optimism last year. Though challenges persist, there was increased public spending on health, a newly launched National Health Plan and a reaffirmed commitment from the government to realizing universal health coverage. Collaboration and co-ordination between the Ministry of Health and Sports, ethnic health organizations, local authorities and other partners continues to improve.

Access the full report here: online version (two-page spreads) | print version (single pages). Please find the report annexes here. 

The 3MDG annual report shows that in 2016, programmes supported by the fund were running at full speed and results across most indicators were meeting or exceeding targets.  In the areas covered by 3MDG more than 25,000 women were able to access ante-natal care four times during their pregnancy, and nearly 25,000 births were attended by a skilled person. Women and children were better able to access emergency care, with 16,612 maternal and 14,700 child referrals during the year.

3MDG’s HIV Harm Reduction programme is performing extremely well and making a significant contribution to national targets. The National AIDS Programme set a target to reach 76,000 people who inject drugs. 3MDG was able to reach 40,000, which is 53 percent of the target and 96 percent of people who inject drugs in the coverage area. The number of people enrolled on treatment for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), at 2,054, is also a significant portion of the national burden. 3MDG continues to meet testing targets for malaria, with more than 444,000 people tested in 2016.

These results and positive developments show that the time is right for continued investment in health in Myanmar. Investing in health reduces the burden of preventable disease, increases life expectancy and enables people to reach their potential. Global evidence shows that making good investments in health can also stimulate economic growth.

As one of the largest contributors of external assistance for health in the country, 3MDG combines the resources of seven donors - Australia, Denmark, the European Union, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America – to provide around USD 284 million in the period 2012–2017. By bringing key donors together in a single fund, 3MDG increases efficiency, achieves scale, pools risks and provides coordinated support to government priorities. It is managed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). 

Since the start of the Fund in 2012, 150,000 women have accessed skilled care for childbirth and 220,000 children have received the Penta 3 vaccination against five common childhood diseases. About 4.5 million people in 34 townships are now covered by maternal, newborn and child health services. More than two million malaria tests have been taken and read, 36 million syringes have been distributed to people who inject drugs to facilitate safe injecting and 39,000 cases of tuberculosis have been detected and treated. These interventions are targeted towards the most vulnerable, hardest-to-reach groups and areas, in order to improve equity in healthcare.

3MDG also works closely with the Ministry of Health and Sports to strengthen the entire health system. So far, this work has included the upgrading of 22 midwifery skills to facilitate hands-on learning, support to 264 townships (80 percent of all townships) to improve their cold chain and medical storage equipment and the construction of 74 rural and sub-rural health centres to bring healthcare to rural and remote areas. 3MDG also supported the Ministry in their development of the National Health Plan 2017 – 2021.

In conflict-affected areas, partners also work closely with ethnic health organizations and non-state actors to support delivery of health services. In particular, 3MDG supports the organizational capacity development of these partners, whose work is particularly important in order to extend reach into these areas and to help ensure timely referral in the event of an emergency.

Access the full report here: online version (two-page spreads) | print version (single pages). Please find the report annexes here.