Private clinics, hospitals in Yangon to face surprise checks

The Yangon Region Private Health Supervisory Committee will carry out surprise checks at all private clinics and hospitals, said U Naing Ngan Lin, Yangon Government Social Affairs Minister, chairman of the Yangon Region Private Health Supervisory Committee, at a meeting of the Yangon Region Private Health Supervisory Committee and private treatment centres on 17 May.

The Private Health Supervisory Committee has already carried out surprise checks in some townships in March and April and found an illegal operating theater and some unregistered drugs at Yaung Ni Oo clinic in Hline Township and at Nay Won general clinic in Lanmadaw Township. The Township Public Health Department concerned has also taken legal action against a Chinese doctor at Nay Won general clinic who refused to show his licence, he added.

“When we conducted surprise checks at the two clinics, we began to suspect some of the other clinics as well. But since we did not have any evidence, we decided to conduct more surprise checks at clinics and hospitals. We will continue to conduct such checks so our citizens cooperate with us and live according to the law. We don’t mean to threaten clinics and hospitals,” said U Naing Ngan Lin.

The Private Health Supervisory Committee is conducting surprise checks with four objectives: To check if clinics hold a business licence, to check whether they provide treatment according to the Health Business Law, to find out whether any treatment is being provided by foreign doctors sans the necessary licences, and to check if the clinics follow the rules and regulations stipulated by the Ministry of Health and Sports. There are 12 speciality hospitals, 42 general hospitals, 280 speciality clinics and 2,666 general treatment clinics registered with the Yangon Region Health Department, said Dr. Tun Myint, Deputy Director-General of the Yangon Region Health Department.

By Nyein Nyein

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar