On the journey towards the universal health coverage (UHC), there is no one-size-fits-all formula. As countries strive to attain the goals of UHC via their own unique maps and routes, it is essential to regularly assess the progress against the context specific to a country. This paper examined the major transitions in Myanmar’s health system: rapid changes in demography, disease transitions, changing patterns in domestic financing, and shifts in donor financing levels and priorities.
Health financing transitions have been emphasized as main transitions affecting the progress towards UHC and health system in Myanmar. Domestic finance transition showed an upward trend on total public health expenditures from 1% in 2011 to 3% in 2019. While donor funding transition brought the challenges for maintaining the essential health services for Myanmar’s health system.
The profile is a result of the collaboration between Community Partners International and the Center for Policy Impact in Global Health, based at the Duke Global Health Institute. The goal of the analysis is to understand both the challenges these transitions present and the opportunities that can be harnessed to build a more equitable health system.