Burma (Myanmar) Healthcare

Burma doesn’t have national health care insurance. Patients in Burma self-pay for about 80 percent of all medical expenses, and the health care system has one of the highest out-of-pocket payment rates among Southeast Asia countries.

While public health expenditures rank among the lowest in the region, private healthcare sector expenditures are gradually increasing, mainly due to growing healthcare awareness after the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the economic impact of the military coup. Unreliable electricity generation, inflationary pressures, regulatory uncertainty, and challenging logistics have disrupted the business environment and impacted the healthcare sector, which is almost completely reliant on imports. 

Despite these hurdles, Burma’s healthcare system has shown resilience, developing healthcare solutions such as telemedicine, mobile clinics, and online platforms as alternative healthcare delivery pathways. 

Burma’s business culture has its own characteristics and complexities. Finding the right local partner with a solid background and good reputation is key to entry and success in the Burma healthcare market. Given the political crisis and other conflicts in the country, U.S. companies nevertheless must be particularly mindful of reputational risks. 

Before exporting, visit our Burma page for the latest updates on sanctions, export controls, and the investment climate for Burma.

For assistance with Burma Healthcare Sector, U.S. exporters can contact the U.S. Commercial Service Department at office.burma@trade.gov