Areas under Arakan Army (AA) control in Arakan (Rakhine) State are facing limited healthcare capacity, and the lack of specialist doctors is adding to the challenges for locals.
Currently, hospitals and clinics in AA-controlled areas have very few dentists, ophthalmologists, neurologists, obstetricians and gynecologists, orthopedic specialists, or general practitioners. As a result, most people rely primarily on general physicians for common health issues.
“Most of the time, people can’t find the right specialist for their health problems, so they have to see a general physician. Even then, these doctors often struggle because they don’t specialize in those specific areas. For example, a girl from my ward had a toothache and wanted to see a dentist, but there wasn’t one available. She went to a physician, but he had to turn her away, saying he didn’t have the proper equipment to treat her,” said a woman from Kyauktaw Township.
Fighting between the junta and the AA in Arakan State has forced some doctors to move to cities in the central regions. This has resulted in a shortage of skilled doctors in Arakan State, posing significant challenges for the public healthcare system.
“Right now, the ratio is about one doctor for every 500 patients. There was a case where a woman’s water broke, and her baby had stopped moving in the womb. It was a very dangerous situation, but she had to wait because the obstetrician was fully booked for the next five days, she didn’t really have any other choice,” said a pregnant woman from Mrauk-U Township.
Some patients wanted to go to the central regions for treatment, even though the travel costs were extremely high. But the junta had strictly closed the roads, making it very difficult for them to get there.
Only a very few wealthy people could afford to travel to India for medical treatment, spending tens of millions of MMK.
The junta has imposed a stringent ban on the flow of goods into Arakan State, leading to severe shortages of medicine and medical equipment.
“There have always been too few doctors in Arakan State, and the situation gets even worse during times of conflict. As a short-term solution, the authorities should try to attract volunteer doctors and specialists from the central regions to work in Arakan State, making sure they get proper salaries, gratuities, and security,” an Arakan young activist told DMG.
DMG is continuing to reach out to AA spokesperson U Khaing Thu Kha regarding the shortage of doctors in AA-controlled territories.
Currently, one notable initiative by the AA to support the healthcare sector is offering short-term training programs to improve healthcare services for local communities.
