Robust health insurance system seen as key to easing healthcare burden
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Phyo/ Pearl (NP News)-May 21
A senior medical doctor has suggested through The Statesman journal that instead of relying solely on the national budget for public healthcare, it is necessary to also utilize a health insurance system.
He said that although the state is gradually increasing health spending, it will not be enough.
“The country's healthcare spending is indeed low when compared with other expenditures. However, there has been a gradual increase. Still, it can't be said that it's sufficient. Compared to other countries or even to other departments within our own country, it is relatively low. If there were no other issues, we could allocate more to health and education sectors. It's not just healthcare alone. If we could better control other leakages, more could be spent on nation-building efforts. Our country's healthcare system currently relies solely on the national budget. I've always said this. No other country does it this way. We need to move toward a health insurance system,” said the above-mentioned doctor.
Furthermore, Dr. Myo Set Thway, secretary of the People's Pioneer Party, said that the national budget is being used to resolve domestic armed conflicts, resulting in low spending on the health sector.
“We have to spend the country’s money just to prevent conflicts. Instead of using it for hospitals and clinics, it's being used for weapons and defense. There are ongoing armed conflicts. Because of these problems, we can’t invest in sectors the public truly needs like education and healthcare. Without peace, we can’t build hospitals or open schools. So, increasing government healthcare spending is not an easy task. It is closely linked to achieving a ceasefire and building lasting domestic peace,” said Dr. Myo Set Thway.
It is reported that when members of the public fall ill, they have to personally bear approximately 76% of the medical expenses. Due to the limited number of hospitals and clinics, shortage of healthcare personnel, inefficiencies in the patient referral system, and the absence of a health insurance system, the public continues to face numerous challenges in accessing adequate healthcare.
“Our national health expenditure is so low that people often end up having to sell their homes or land just to afford medical treatment. This situation arises not only because of the government’s limited spending on healthcare, but also because we still do not have a proper health insurance system in place in our country,” said Dr. Myo Set Thway.
It is also reported that there is a need to expand and train more healthcare professionals, to upgrade and construct more hospital and clinic facilities, to improve transportation infrastructure, and to establish an effective patient referral system. In addition, the implementation of a health insurance system is necessary. –