Senior citizens to get free medical treatment in public hospitals

Senior citizens to get free medical treatment in public hospitals

Published on Friday, 07 December 2012 21:56

Elderly patients seen at the U Hla Tun Cancer Foundation Hospital (Photo-EMG)

Senior citizens are expected to get free medical treatment and health check in the public hospitals, said Myint Thein, minister for Social Affairs of Yangon Region, on December 3.

The minister said this in response to the proposal raised by Nyo Nyo Thin, Member of Parliament of Bahan Township No 2 Constituency of Yangon Region.

The parliament member said that senior citizens find it hard to secure medial treatment in public hospitals and some of them have to beg for medial fees on the street. She then proposed that senior citizens should be offered free medical services in public hospitals.

"We are raising funds to better the healthcare system in the hospitals. We have also assigned 88 townships in the healthcare projects aimed for the elderly…Thanlyin, Thongwa, Kayan, Dawpon, Hlaing Tharyar, Twante are included as the project areas," said Myint Thein.

He added that government subsidises 40 to 150 millions kyats (US$46,866-175,747) to 15 central level hospitals and also hospitals at region and state level. Under the management of the health department, healthcare centres at district and township levels are subsidised, too. Therefore, senior citizens in both urban and rural areas will soon have access to free healthcare services.

According to Myint Thein, Insein General Hospital is currently offering free medical services to those aged over 60. Some health service departments in Yangon region offer free treatments to Ischemic heart disease patients on every Wednesday.

There are 16 public hospitals and 30 private hospitals in Yangon.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2012/12/07/senior-citizens-to-get-free-medical-treatment-in-public-hospitals/