Health ministry tells nurses to submit their difficulties to MNMC

March 16, 2017 

The Ministry of Health has asked disgruntled nurses to submit their complaints to the Myanmar Nurse and Midwife Council, saying that there would be no loss incurred in signing an agreement that requires them to work for the government for three years after graduation. 

The remarks came at a press conference at the ministry in Yangon yesterday following protests Tuesday by hundreds of nurses who believe the agreement is unfair.

The priority of the council is putting patient safety and quality assurance first, which is why the MNMC urges accepting the agreement and to submit their difficulties to the Council, said Dr. Phyu Phyu, the chairperson of the Myanmar Nurse and Midwife Council at the press conference.

Dr. Phyu Phyu stated that there is a severe shortage of nurses in government hospitals and a high rate of absence, which prompted the 2015 agreement requiring three years of civil service upon earning a nursing degree/diploma. The MNMC issues Registration IDs to nurses and midwives practicing in accord with rules and regulations, and issues a 2-year valid license upon entering the workforce. The MNMC maintains a rigorous process in ensuring nurses and midwives receive valid registration licenses and forbids practicing without one.

Those who fail to follow the agreement must pay Ks400,000.

The MNMC has the right to issue announcements, promulgations, rules and regulations under MNMC Section (52)-subsection (B). Which is why a recommendation letter similar to a license is being issued along with Registration IDs, and from the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) point of view the compulsory three-year service agreement will assist in opening opportunities for working in other ASEAN countries.

Various universities and training schools currently have over 9,000 trainees in attendance. Director General Dr. Myint Han of Health Department for Healing explained on the agreement signed by nurses to serve as public servants after their three years of study. They will be issued a nursing license and nursing ID card upon signing and allowed to practice in private hospitals and clinics outside of the government working hours. There is also a high attrition rate among licensed nurses and various complications in appointing to regional and state hospitals.

Professor Dr Thet Naing Win, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Sports, said that the Ministry of Health and Sports has been performing its duties of upgrading the standard of the whole populace’s health, protecting medical expenses of the people from being too high, providing more health care services towards the people as much as possible, by laying down better health policies. The State has granted larger budget allotments year after year.

Nationwide, there are 1,123 hospitals, with a nursing staff of 37,704 needed, but only 20,683 employed — leaving 17,021 nursing positions vacant. 

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar