Free Healthcare Clinics on the rise in Mynamar Reporter: KoSwe Date: March 26th 2013 Slug: Burma healthcare

INTRO: Myanmars public health sector is one of the worst in the world. During military junta times the government only spent 1% of the national budget on health care. The new semi-democratic government has increased the amount for health to around 4 percent of this years budget. But critics say its far from enough. And non-government groups are being left to fill the gap. KoSwe reports from a free health clinic in Yangon. TEXT Daw Cho clip 1 (Female, Burmese): After I was discharged from a hospital, I felt some pain here, nerves in my hand, legs and felt ill very often. Since I've received treatments here, I am getting better. SFX 1_ouside the clinic 63-year-old Daw Cho is being treated at this free health clinic called the Su Mittar set up in the Thaketar township in Yangon. It cares for the elderly and vulnerable. SFX 2_Inside the clinic Due to a critical lack of funding government hospitals around the country are in a bad condition - with poor equipment, insufficient supplies and not enough doctors. U Khin Tun from Kyin Pauk village is also a patient there. U Khin Tun clip 1 (Male, Burmese): Our village, for our population, should have at least one or two doctors on the ground. But we do not have these kind of treatments and patients were only sent to hospitals in emergency situations - it's a big problem SFX 3 patient registration As a result of these poor government hospitals, private clinics have been emerging in big cities since 1995. But these private clinics are expensive says Wai Phyo Aung, co-founder of Su Mitta free health care clinic.

Wai Phyo Aung clip 1 (Male, Burmese): Private clinics are too expensive for general public. The main problem is that medical services for grassroots are still poor. And for most people, their only option is to go to the government hospitals or to take traditional medicines. U Khin Tun clip 2 (Male, Burmese): Most of time, we rely on traditional medicines for our health problems. All public hospitals claim that they offer a cost-sharing plan but in reality Daw Cho says she had to pay for everything. Daw Cho clip 2 (Female, Burmese): It costs around USD$710 for all, medicine and food. Q : How much did the hospital share with you? Nothing. We had to buy all things:cotton wool, bandage, (hypodermic) needles everything. Daw Cho was being treated at a local clinic. Her condition deteriorated and she was sent to the nearest hospital for an operation. Daw Cho clip 3 (Female, Burmese): The doctors and nurses were good, they instructed what medicines I should buy. When you bought medicines they would give you an injection. But it depends on the money, if you have money you will get better. Daw Cho racked up a debt of 600 US dollars during her month of treatment. Daw Cho clip 4 (Female, Burmese): Now our house has to be sold to settle our debt. The signboard has already been put in place. SFX 4 Doctor checking patient But with the help of the free Su Mittar clinic she is now able to afford her treatment. Most of the patients here are women and the elderly. Under the semi-civilian government the number of clinics like Su Mittar has increased around the country. Local donors, welfare groups and political parties have come together to help the poor. Wai Phyo Aung from the free clinic. Wai Phyo Aung clip 2 (Male, Burmese): More medicines are needed for public hospitals. And these kind of small clinics are also good. More people will benefit from these even if it is not a perfect situation. SFX 5 Clinic waiting room

Though the work of these free clinics is vital, it doesnt solve the wider problem of the state healthcare sector in Myanmar. It will continue to deteriorate if the government doesnt do something drastic. From Yangon, this feature is produced by Ko Swe for Asia Calling.