The Ministry of Health and Sports signed an MoU with the Access to Health Fund yesterday on funding for healthcare services in Myanmar. Under the MoU, the Access to Health Fund will provide US$215 million grant for healthcare projects in Myanmar for a period of five years (2019-2023). The grants will be provided to the MoHS and international non-governmental organizations for projects in 144 townships of eight region and states.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Kempinski Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw, Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr. Myint Htwe said the MoU would be of great assistance in conducting healthcare activities in all parts of Myanmar. He then expressed his gratitude to the main donor countries — the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Switzerland — who have contributed to the Access to Health Fund.

With the signing of the MoU, the MoHS has received grants for conducting healthcare activities for two years. The activities cover implementing the National Healthcare Project, fighting tuberculosis, AIDS, and drug abuse, preventing Hepatitis, and improving nutrition, maternal, newborn, and child health, and reproductive health. “It is important to draw up work plans to practically implement the projects on the ground with effective use of funds to meet the National Health Plan’s objectives, and to build the flow of funds capacity, such as fund handover, receipt, and use of funds to carry out projects,” the Union Minister said.

He added that applied research has to be undertaken to effectively carry out the projects.

Through effective use of grants provided by donor organizations, the Ministry will implement projects that are suited to ground conditions and are relevant to the subject matter, in cooperation with partner organizations, the Union Minister said.

Afterwards, Dr. Thar Tun Kyaw, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Sports, and Mr. Oren Ginzburg, the Fund Director of the Access to Health Fund, signed seven MoUs on provision of funding to the MoHS, in the presence of the Union Minister.

Then, on behalf of donor organizations, Ms. Rebecca Richards, the acting Head of Office of the Department for International Development UK, and Mr. Giacomo Solari, the Deputy Head of the Mission of Swiss Embassy in Myanmar, delivered speeches.

After the signing of the MoU, a workshop on drawing up work plans and building capacity of employees for flow of funds producers was launched. The workshop will conclude on 3 July. — MNA (Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun)