Colonel Min Than, a member of the Tatmadaw-led Arakan State Administration Council, said patients could receive free medical treatment at military hospitals as some patients told DMG that they have struggled to receive medical treatment for the past 15 days at Sittwe General Hospital.

“If there are patients who need to be transferred urgently, the Tatmadaw can provide treatment to them,” he said. There are two military hospitals in Sittwe and patients will be treated free of charge, he added.

Patients at Sittwe General Hospital are being transferred to private hospitals, according to a patient.

“A patient in the same room with us broke his hip because a stone fell on his hip. He stayed in the hospital for a day or two and underwent X-rays and was transferred to an outpatient clinic. There are currently not many patients at Sittwe General Hospital,” he said.

There are only patients in the outpatient and maternity wards at Sittwe General Hospital, and there are almost no patients in the orthopedic ward for the time being.

Patients would be transferred to the military hospitals only if necessary, said Dr. Zaw Lwin, the medical superintendent of Sittwe General Hospital.

“Sittwe General Hospital is being run regularly. There are some doctors at the hospital but I don’t know exactly how many doctors are on duty. We will transfer patients to the military hospitals if necessary. At the moment, there is no need to transfer patients, so it is convenient to continue treatment at this hospital,” he added.