SPHC Myanmar - Policy brief: How to overcome the challenges faced by Myanmar’s PEN services

Summary and recommendations

As life expectancy increases and the impact of communicable diseases lessens, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are becoming a growing health problem in Myanmar. They accounted for 40 per cent of all deaths in Myanmar in 2010,1 59 per cent in 20142 and 68 per cent in 2018.3 NCDs can cause disabilities and lower quality of life, while expenditure people have to spend on treatment and referrals can be catastrophic to low income households. In order to adapt to this disease transition,

NCD healthcare services must be expanded and improved, especially at the community level and in rural areas where access can be difficult.4 5 The World Health Organization’s Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease Interventions is helping address this, but the system needs expanding, with more training and improved supply chains, alongside greater public

awareness of NCDs, to better tackle them in Myanmar.