There is a shortage of most medicines in Lahe Township in Naga Self-Administered Zone, with some medicines, such as paracetamol, being sold at ten times their normal price.
The price of 10 Paracetamol tablets has risen from 500 MMK to 5,000 MMK and a large bottle of Hemodialysis Slow Drip has increased from 2,500 MMK to 10,000 MMK, according to a Lahe Township residents who said medicine prices have risen significantly.
Another Lahe Township resident said: "In some pharmacies, paracetamol is being sold for 4,500 to 5,000 MMK per pack of 10 tablets. Prices have skyrocketed.”
But, some medicines are no longer even available. A health worker said: "In the Naga region, medicine prices are rising everywhere, and pharmacies are running out of medication, especially antibiotics for those with chronic diseases and wounds."
Lahe General Hospital is also experiencing shortages of medication, and some necessary medicines are also out of stock in every pharmacy in Lahe Town.
Another Lahe Township resident said: “At Lahe Hospital, there are doctors available, but no medicines. The private clinics also have no medicines. My daughter was admitted to the hospital, but the medicine was so scarce that we had to search the entire town to find it. Most medications are no longer available at the hospital and need to be purchased from private pharmacies.”
Medicines and basic necessities for Lahe Township are normally shipped up the Chindwin River in Sagaing Region from the Homalin Town to Hpakanti Town and then by road to Lahe Township.
But, because the junta is preventing boats from using the Chindwin River there is a shortage of medication and other goods in Lahe Town, which has led to higher prices.
A health worker from Lahe Township said that because medicines are scarce and there are difficulties in transportation pharmacies have started manipulating prices.
They said: “When gold and dollar prices increase in Yangon City, prices in Lahe also go up accordingly. There is no one to regulate or oversee the prices in the shops. As a result, pharmacies manipulate prices as they please, and people have no choice but to buy what they need for their health, regardless of the cost.”
Since the February 2021 coup, the frequency of malaria infections has increased in the townships of Lahe and Nanyun in the Naga Self-Administered Zone. The situation is made worse by the shortage of medication for health workers in the area.
Reaching Lahe Town is hard, due to difficulties in travelling and phone and internet services to the town are often disrupted.
