By Dr Zeyar Win

The Ministry of Health oversees the integration of private healthcare into the existing framework. Amidst private healthcare expansion, their focus is on maintaining public safety, quality care, and affordability.

In any nation, a population that enjoys good health and longevity serves as a crucial driver for socioeconomic develop­ment. The Human Development Index (HDI) is used to evaluate a nation’s development. The HDI is an index measuring national socioeconomic development based on combining measures of edu­cation, health and adjusted real income per capita. Therefore, the attainment of longevity and healthy social lives is indicative of a nation’s progress. Governments often prioritize enhancing health­care to improve the longevity and well-being of their citizens.

Public healthcare comprises two fundamental facets: disease prevention and the administration of safe medical care in response to illnesses. The Ministry of Health assumes complete responsibility for the public health domain, which entails supervising large-scale vaccination campaigns to mitigate infectious diseases, conducting disease surveillance, and imple­menting effective control meas­ures. The Ministry also works to reduce the spread of diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria and to control the prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes mel­litus through national control pro­grammes.

At the same time, public hos­pitals are being established with the aim of delivering safe and ef­fective healthcare services to the populace. Furthermore, arrange­ments are being made to alleviate public out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures.

Due to the high costs of med­icines and medical equipment, coupled with limitations on hu­man resources, it is challenging for most countries to deliver so­cialized medicine. These chal­lenges are particularly acute in developing countries, where it is financially unfeasible to cover healthcare costs for the entire populace. Consequently, despite the governmental prioritization of essential healthcare expenditures, accessibility remains inadequate. Thus, private healthcare services play a crucial role in meeting the daily healthcare needs of the pub­lic, even in developed countries.

The Ministry of Health is, therefore, tasked with manag­ing the integration of private healthcare within the necessary framework. As private healthcare expands, ensuring public safety, quality care, and affordability re­mains primary. The Ministry of Health continuously monitors and evaluates the development and expansion of private healthcare services.

Private hospitals and clinics that support and enhance the na­tion’s healthcare system must be well-organized and properly ac­credited. The Ministry of Health acts as the chief regulator of pri­vate healthcare services, empha­sizing the provision of adequate healthcare and ensuring patient safety.

In that situation, the gov­ernment must regulate private healthcare services by enacting a law. The Law Relating to Pri­vate Healthcare Services was enacted on 4 April 2007 by the State Peace and Development Council (Law No 5/2007) to regu­late private healthcare services. Subsequent revisions led to an amendment, which was enacted by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Law No 14/2013) on 28 June 2013.

To accomplish this, the gov­ernment has established the Cen­tral Body for private healthcare services, comprising no more than 21 members. This body includes the Union Minister and the Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Health as Chairman and Vice-Chairman, the Director-General of the De­partment of Medical Services as Secretary, as well as heads and representatives of the relevant government departments and or­ganizations and representatives of the non-governmental organi­zations as members.

The objectives of this legisla­tion include several key aspects: to develop private healthcare services in accordance with the national health policy; to partici­pate and carry out systematically private healthcare services in the national healthcare system as an integral part; to enable utilizing the resources of private sector ef­fectively in providing healthcare to the public; to enable the public to choose as desired in fulfilling their needs for health by establish­ing private healthcare services; to enable the provision of quality services at fair costs and to take responsibility.

Under the authority of the Central Body, a working commit­tee and state and divisional su­pervisory committees have been established to manage private healthcare services more effec­tively, with continuous monitor­ing. The Central Body provides guidance in accordance with the national health policy to maintain and enhance the quality of private healthcare services. The Central Body is primarily responsible for issuing or refusing licences for the operation of any private healthcare services and for inspecting and su­pervising private healthcare ser­vices to ensure compliance with prescribed terms and conditions.

In monitoring private healthcare services, the Minis­try of Health evaluates the qual­ity of healthcare personnel, the conditions of hospital and clinic buildings, and compliance with fire safety regulations. Addition­al considerations include tax compliance, refining treatment techniques, and improving ser­vice quality, all in alignment with periodically updated government policies.

Private hospitals and clinics that violate laws, regulations, or directives face various adminis­trative actions, such as warnings, imposing the stipulated fine, sus­pension of the licence for a limited period, cancellation of the license and legal action upon conviction.

Government regulations are essential, and public cooperation is equally necessary to enhance the quality of private healthcare ser­vices. Significant improvements in safety, patient satisfaction, and health outcomes can be achieved through active patient collabora­tion, contributing to their safety and the overall healthcare system. The Ministry of Health remains attentive to patient feedback.

In conclusion, the develop­ment of private healthcare ser­vices is imperative, and their co­operation with state regulations is crucial to ensuring safe and quality healthcare for the public.