Interim President says will stand shoulder to shoulder with ASEAN while millions need healthcare assistance

Min Aung Hlaing, who transformed from a military leader to an interim president after the coup in Myanmar, stated that despite millions of people needing healthcare assistance due to their actions, they will provide accessible healthcare and work to stand shoulder to shoulder with ASEAN countries. He made these remarks at the opening ceremony of nursing institutes, which were renamed from nursing schools in Naypyidaw, the military headquarters, and in 14 regions and states. "In formulating and implementing policies for the health and well-being of the entire nation and for the advancement of healthcare standards, we are focusing on ensuring that healthcare services directly benefit the public and that healthcare is accessible to everyone, regardless of wealth or poverty, in both urban and rural areas," he said. He further stated that they will increase the intake of students for the three-year nursing and midwifery diploma program and the two-year comprehensive midwifery diploma program in the 2027 academic year, aiming to produce qualified nurses and midwives who can stand shoulder to shoulder with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries. However, in reality, due to the conflicts they have caused and attacks on the healthcare sector, over 9.3 million people in Myanmar need healthcare assistance, and diseases such as diarrhea, dengue fever, and malaria are on the rise, according to the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2026 Emergency Healthcare Report. Furthermore, approximately 200 healthcare workers have been killed and over 900 have been arrested due to aerial and heavy artillery attacks, and over 500 healthcare facilities have been damaged as of April 28, according to a report by Insecurity Insight, a Swiss-based research organization focused on human security. In hospitals currently controlled by the interim government, a significant shortage of healthcare workers has occurred due to their refusal to accept the military coup and their participation in the CDM (Civil Disobedience Movement) alongside the public. Taking advantage of this situation, most healthcare workers treat patients with a lack of empathy and rudeness, according to an individual who experienced it firsthand. "The situation in most hospitals is that, except for a few doctors who were unable to participate in the CDM and had to stay, the rest are mentally unprepared. This is a real experience. They disrespect and are unkind to patients. Many are only focused on running private clinics for profit," the woman who had this experience told the Irrawaddy Times. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, Myanmar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, presented and pointed out the violations committed by the interim government, which transitioned from the military junta, regarding the situation in Myanmar during the ministerial-level discussions of the High-Level Political Forum held from July 7 to 15 at the UN Headquarters in New York. Since the military coup, Myanmar's poverty rate has increased to about 50 percent, one-third of the country's population is facing extremely severe food insecurity, and over one million children are missing out on crucial vaccination programs, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun said. Photo: MOI