Following his visit to Rakhine on July 11 after the storm, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the Military Council, stated that hospitals and clinics in Rakhine State would furnish the necessary health workers. However, this pledge has not been carried out to date.
In the aftermath of the storm, Rathedaung township is facing a significant influx of ill individuals, with an inadequate number of health workers available, leading to considerable challenges.
At present, the State Department of Health has allocated 3 temporary health workers; however, according to Dr. Tin Myint Oo, the medical superintendent of Rathedaung Township Public Hospital, a greater number is still required.
"At present, the doctors' needs are not completely addressed. However, for the sake of convenience, they have temporarily assigned an assistant doctor and two nurses from Pauktaw Township. The exact duration of this temporary arrangement is unknown to me," stated Dr. Tin Myint Oo.
In the aftermath of the storm in Rakhine state, communities from townships including Sittwe, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, and Pauktaw are in urgent need of healthcare support. However, the hospitals and clinics in these townships are grappling with a shortage of healthcare workers, resulting in residents not receiving adequate healthcare services.
Both Ku Taung and U Gar rural hospitals in Rathedaung Township currently lack medical doctors. In case of emergencies, residents are compelled to undertake a 3-hour sea journey to Rathedaung Township for necessary medical attention.
"In our area, there's a rural hospital, and the absence of a doctor is causing significant harm. This is why we're urging the Military Council to promptly assign a doctor as a matter of urgency," stated Ko Maung Myat Aung from U Gar village.
The 50-bed public hospital in Ramree Township, southern Rakhine State, is managed by one surgeon, two dentists, and a team of 25 nurses, but is facing difficulties in providing healthcare services effectively.
"We had previously submitted a letter regarding the shortage of doctors. But we have not yet received a response. The insufficient number of health workers is leading to conflicts between patients and our staff," conveyed a health worker at Ramree Hospital.
Although there are township hospitals, rural hospitals, and rural clinics scattered across different townships in Rakhine State, the shortage of appointed health workers is resulting in residents encountering challenges in seeking healthcare assistance.
"I'd like to highlight that the Military Council has only given us false hope. It's been more than a month, and we haven't seen a single health worker arriving yet. If they truly intend to provide staff, they certainly have the capacity to do so. As a governing entity, their primary focus should be on the welfare of the people," remarked U Aung Thaung Shwe, former parliament member of Buthidaung Township.
The State Department of Health reports that out of the 53 rural hospitals in Rakhine State, 23 of them are still lacking the presence of doctors.
According to the 2018 statistics, Rakhine State boasts a total of 70 hospitals, which comprise 1 hospital with 500 beds, 1 with 200 beds, 4 with 100 beds, 8 with 50 beds, 4 with 25 beds, and 52 with 16 beds. Additionally, the state accommodates 100 rural health centers and 560 rural health divisions.
As per the State Department of Health's statistics, a total of 816 doctors are required to be appointed across Rakhine State. However, up until the year 2018, only 236 doctors have been appointed.
