In Rakhine State, where conflict has recently escalated, the Military Council has imposed travel restrictions, leading to shortages in many pharmacies across Rathedaung, Mrauk-U, Pauktaw, and Minbya townships, according to locals.
Pharmacy owners report shortages in several drug categories, including intravenous serums, anti-diabetic medications, heart supplement medications, anti-hypertensive medications, fever-reducing drugs, and allergy medications.
Following the renewed conflict with the Arakan Army (AA) on November 13th, the Military Council has imposed travel restrictions in Rakhine State, consequently disrupting the operations of NGOs and INGOs engaged in aid work.
"When routes are blocked, pharmacies exhaust vital medicine without the possibility of replenishment. If this persists, we may deplete our medicine supply within the next week”, a Minbya-based pharmacy owner told DMG.
"Our village has no more medicine, and if things stay the same, we'll run out of food too. With closed roads, no imports are possible, and the situation might worsen over time”, a resident of Thayat village in Pauktaw told DMG.
Both the downtown and rural areas of Maungdaw are showing obvious signs of drug shortages, leading to an increase in drug prices.
A nurse in Buthidaung noted a shortage of medicines, including those for common coughs and illnesses. " As medicines disappear from clinics and pharmacies, the shortages will have big impact. The shortages also results in a crisis in essential food products.”
In rural areas, when faced with health challenges, villagers encounter hardships due to blocked roads leading to towns. Residents expressed concern that if the Military Council persists in maintaining the current blockade on routes, the healthcare sector in rural areas could become dire.
"We can't go to Maungdaw Township right now due to closed roads, causing numerous hardships. In towns with many pharmacies and clinics, we can explore alternatives. However in the village, there is no medicine available when you fall ill”, a woman from Pyachaunggyi village in Rathedaung said.
