Burnet delegation meets the Minister for Health Dr Pe Thet Khin, The Deputy Minister for Health Dr Thein Thein Htay, the Director General of the Dept of Health Dr Min Than Nyunt and the Director General of the Department of Medical Science Dr Than Zaw Myi

Burnet Institute Director and CEO Professor Brendan Crabb described this week’s meeting with Myanmar’s Minister for Health Dr Pe Thet Khin in the capital Nay Pyi Taw as “very positive”.

“It was wonderful to hear that the Ministry’s approaches to improving health in Myanmar are so well aligned with our own ideas, especially those around strengthening a broader system of health care, not just tackling single diseases,” Professor Crabb said.

“We look forward to working more closely with Government agencies in addressing the many health problems they face.”

A Burnet delegation of board members and executive staff met with Myanmar Government senior health officials to discuss key health challenges facing the country.

Burnet Institute Chair, Mr Alastair Lucas AM, former Democrats leader and Burnet Board member Ms Natasha Stott Despoja AM, Professor Brendan Crabb, Burnet Myanmar Country Director, Dr Karl Dorning and Technical Coordinator, Kyu Kyu Than were involved in the meetings.

Professor Crabb said that with the rapidly changing political environment in Myanmar, the Institute was now engaging with a number of government ministries to assist in strengthening health systems and improving the capacity for public health research.

“Some of the key health issues discussed this week included women’s and children’s health and the high levels of maternal and newborn deaths especially in rural Myanmar, malaria and drug resistance, and water and sanitation programs,” he said.