Financing Health
The
major sources of finance for health care services in Myanmar are the government
, social security system, private households, community contributions and
external aid. Although the Ministry of Health is the main service provider,
some other ministries such as Railways, Mines, Transport, etc. have their own
medical facilities for their employees and dependents. The government
expenditure for 1996-97 was estimated to be 14.6% of the national health
expenditure. Social security system 
was
established in 1956 under the Ministry of labour. It covers medical services
for workers registered under the scheme. Registered employees and employers
contribute financial source for the scheme. The expenditure by social security
scheme for 1996-97 was estimated to be 0.6% of the national health expenditure.
H. E.
Lt. General Tin Oo, Secretary (2) of the State Peace and Development Council,
donating lithotriptor Machine to Yangon General Hospital
Private household expenditure for health estimated through
household expenditure survey was found to be about 2% of the total household
expenditure. In 1996-97 it was estimated that private households contributed
69.9% of national health expenditure. It is customary in Myanmar for the
community to make contributions either in cash or in kind for health services.
It was estimated that value of community contribution to health sector was 0.7%
of the national health expenditure in 1996-97. External assistance is one of
the major sources of financing for health especially for spending in foreign
exchange. The major agencies assisting the ministry of health are UN
agencies such as WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, etc., other bilateral agencies, and
international NGOs. It was estimated that total external assistance to health
sector was US$ 17.16 million in 1996-97 amounting to 14.2% of national health
expenditure.