Myanmar Health Forum

Press Release
First-ever Myanmar Health Forum to take place in Nay Pyi Taw on 28-29 July 2015
NAY PYI TAW, 9 July 2015 - The Myanmar Health Forum (MHF), the first of its kind, will be
held at the Myanmar International Convention Centre II in Nay Pyi Taw on 28-29July 2015.
The importance of health in the development agenda and the significant need for investment
in health sector will be emphasized. Areas of priority investment will be identified by
national and international actors. The forum will also be an opportunity for the Ministry of
Health and its partners to showcase progress in the health sector and present their plans for
the future. The main overall goal of the MHF is to start Myanmar on the path to universal
health coverage, which is to be realized by 2030.
"For the first time, Myanmar's large and diverse health sector will be meeting and sharing
experiences to better tackle current challenges and plan for this country to reach universal
health coverage by 2030" declared the Union Minister of Health, His Excellency Dr Than
Aung.
The MHF will be attended by about 700 health and non-health actors, including experts and
senior representatives from the Ministry of Health and other ministries, Members of
Parliament, international speakers, multilateral and bilateral development partners,
international organizations, local, national and international non-governmental
organizations, the private sector and academics.
The two-day MHF will consist of plenary and parallel discussion sessions. These will cover
critical issues ranging from the impact of health sector reform, unmet health and
development needs, reaching universal health coverage and the interdependence of the
health sector and other sectors.
Mr Eamonn Murphy, Country Director for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
(UNAIDS), said "The Myanmar Health Forum will provide a platform for discussing support
and recommendations to help Myanmar build a better, stronger and equitable health system
to serve all the people." The MHF is organized by the Ministry of Health with support from
the Myanmar Health Sector Coordinating Committee, the UNAIDS Country Office and other
development partners. Funding support was secured by UNAIDS from 3MDG Fund.

Speaking for non-governmental organizations, Daw Nwe Zin Win, Executive Director of Pyi
Gyi Khin stated: "As a major health service provider in Myanmar, civil society hopes that this
Forum will enable us to be more involved in decisions and actions to strengthen our health
system and attain universal health care within a generation."
The MHF will be concluded by a press event, as well as a statement or communique, endorsed
by MHF participants, which will provide guidance for future actions. A full report on MHF
activities and recommendations will be issued in the following weeks.
Contact
Ministry of Health | Dr Kyaw Khaing (Director) |067 411335 | kyawkhaing68@gmail.com