13 Sep

PEOPLE’S hospitals are the places where medical treatments are given to the patients free of charge or at the least cost. The patients’ reliance on people’s hospitals has been increasing day by day due to the free medical treatment services. The Yangonites are placing too much reliance on Yangon General Hospital and the patients coming to there are a larger number. As a result of that it is not easy for the YGH to accommodate all the patients coming to it to undergo medical treatment. For that reason, New Yangon Specialist Hospital is under construction in Yangon with the assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and it is expected to be commissioned into service in 2021. The New Yangon Specialist Hospital is located on the side of Min Ye Kyaw Swa Street at the corner of Pyay Road and Bogyoke Aung San Street in Lanmadaw Township, Yangon Region.

On 28 April 2019, the Ground Breaking ceremony of “the Project for the Construction of New Yangon Specialist Hospital” by the cooperation of Department of Medical Services (DoMS) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was held at the construction site situated on the side of Min Ye Kyaw Swa Street at the corner of Pyay Road and Bogyoke Aung San Street in Lanmadaw Township, Yangon Region. The construction of the project was expected to be completed in 2021, but unfortunately the noble coronavirus called COVID-19 occurred in Myanmar resulting in some delays to the construction project.

Design for New Yangon Specialist Hospital

Japan-based Taisei Corporation has taken the responsibility for the construction of the project of New Yangon Specialist Hospital whose design was created by Japanese experts so that Myanmar youths will be able to study the construction of the hospital and the implementation of the design. In partnership with Japanese experts, Myanmar engineers can enjoy the opportunity of closely observing systematic measures.

Financial assistance by Japanese government

Japanese government provided Japanese Grant Amount of 8.661 billion Japanese Yen for the implementation of New Yangon Specialist Hospital with the contribution of K42 billion by the Ministry of Health and Sports.

In addition to the grant aid, Japanese government is going to provide hospital equipment and the Ministry of Health and Sports, hospital equipment worth of K 42 billion to the new hospital. A significant symbol marking long-lasting friendship and cooperation will be appearing in the health sector between Myanmar and Japan.

Extension of hospital facilities

With an increasing number of more than 7 million people in Yangon, the situation calls for more healthcare services. With the changes in food and lifestyles, the number of those who get diseases is increasing and the construction of more hospitals is being extended. A new people’s general hospital has been constructed in Hlinethaya Township, Yangon Region. In addition to the upgrading on the remaining hospitals, the construction of new hospitals is under implementation.

The New Yangon Specialist Hospital will have a total of seven stories and it will be 300-bedded hospital. The ground will have to see the emergency unit and out-patient unit and the lab room and administrative units will be on the first floor. There will be surgical rooms and intensive care units on the second floor. There will be surgical and treatment rooms for neurology and cardiology on the remaining four floors.

Support equipment

Upon completion of New Yangon Specialist Hospital, units of cardiology and neurology from Yangon General Hospital will be moved into the new hospital where medical treatment is going to be provided to the patients. Sophisticated medical equipment and modern medicines as well as health-support equipment will be available at this new hospital and the patients will be able to receive medical treatment having easy access to a variety of support equipment. In addition to such favaourable conditions, the medical students attending the University of Medicine, the undergraduate students and postgraduate ones will have to get easy learning access.

This new hospital will provide healthcare services especially neurological and cardiological problems to Myanmar citizens with the use of advance healthcare systems from Japan. With this good intention, efforts are being made to achieve success in the construction of the new hospital amidst any difficulties.

Updates on hospitals in Loikaw, Lashio, Magway and Dawei

The Japanese government provided hospital equipment to three hospitals in Mandalay during 2013, similarly to the New Yangon Specialist Hospital and Yangon General Hospital. Toward the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030 in Myanmar as MoHS’ strategy, the cooperation between MoHS and JICA have been implemented under the 3 pillars: health system strengthening, human resource development and infectious disease control. In the recent cooperation, JICA have been supporting for the renovation of the general hospitals in Loikaw, Lashio, Magway and Dawei, rural health centers, the introduction of hospital management approach in Loikaw General Hospital, providing PhD course for 12 Medical Doctors and short term training for 55 Medical Doctors in Japan, strengthening the capacity of 18 medical engineers, training 559 Medical Record Technicians, the development of malaria elimination model, and supporting laboratory services for HIV/AIDS and TB. This new specialist hospital is one of the symbolic milestones of cooperation between the new governments of Myanmar and Japan toward achieving UHC. 

By Zin Lin Myint 
Translated by Htut Htut (Twantay)