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Information Sheet No. A.0837(I)



MYANMAR  INFORMATION  COMMITTEE
YANGON

Information  Sheet
No. A.0837(I)                 16 March 1999

(1)		Better Quality Jade to be Sold at 36th Myanma Gems Emporium

		A press conference of the 36th Myanma Gems Emporium was held in Myanma Gems
Hall on 15 March. 144 jade lots of the State are to be sold through bidding
and they are marketable in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macao and Western
nations. More jade merchants would attend the emporium and it is estimated
that over 300 gem merchants from 16 nations will attend the emporium. At this
emporium, 1,090 lots of jade will be sold for the basic price of US $ 11.5
million, 221 lots of gems for the basic price of over US $ 3.2 million, 121
lots of pearls for the basic price of US $ 1.3 million totalling 1,432 lots of
jade, gems and pearls for the basic of over US $ 16.1 million. A total of 158
lots of gems will be sold at the fixed prices in USD over 90,000,2,539 items
of jewellery for over US $ 1.1 million, 4,623 jade figurines for over $
170,000.

(2)		Grassroots Grant Assistance From Japan

		Under the Grassroots Grant Assistance Scheme of Japanese Government, a
contract signing ceremony to build seven basic education primary schools in
Yangon Division was held at Botahtaung Basic Education High School No.6  on 15
March. Minister for Education and Ambassador of Japan Mr. Kazuo Asakai made
speeches. Afterwards, Ambassador of Japan Mr. Kazuo Asakai and principals of
BEPS No.6 of Dagon Myothit (South) Township, BEPS of Thongwa Village, BEPS No
30 of Dagon Myothit (North) Township, BEPS No 14 and No 36 of Shwepyitha
Township, BEPS No 21 and No 40 of Hlaing Thayar Township signed the contract.
A primary school is worth US $ 37, 900 and seven schools are worth US$
265,300.

(3)		Myanmar Delegation Leaves for Thailand

		A 30 member Myanmar delegation led by a regional commander Major General
Thein Sein left Yangon by special Tatmadaw aircraft on 15 March to attend the
Seventeenth Meeting of the Myanmar-Thailand Regional Border Committee to be
held in Phuket, Thailand.

(4)		Opening Ceremony of Thai Health Care Services Exhibition & Presentation

		The opening ceremony for Thai Health Care Services Exhibition and
Presentation, jointly organized by the Department of Export Promotion of
Thailand and the Royal Thai Embassy in Myanmar and the Private Hospitals
Association of Thailand, took place at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel  on 15 March
with an address by Minister for Health. 
		"Aiming towards 'Health for All by the Year 2000' and within the context of
the national development short term five year 1996-2001 plan, the National
Health Plan (1996-2001) is being systematically implemented. Under the
National Health Plan 1996-2001 the six main broad programme areas are:
Community Health Care Programme, Disease Control Programme, Hospital Care
Programme, Environmental Health Programme, Health System Development
Organization and Management. The Hospital Care Programme has been formulated
with the objective of upgrading the quality of care in health institutions and
special attention has been given to the availability and affordability of drug
and health care services for those living in the rural, far and remote areas.
The township health department which includes a township hospital provides
hospital care to the people at the township level. The next referral level is
the district hospital where the services of specialists have been made
available. The next referral level is the State and Divisional Hospital where
all specialist services are provided. The tertiary referral is the specialist
hospitals which are situated in Mandalay for upper Myanmar and Yangon for
lower Myanmar. Previously, the State provided free medical care to the people,
but now, a community cost sharing system has been introduced where the public
contributes a certain portion of health care cost, provided that they are able
to afford it. However, to ensure that health care costs does not create a
burden to low income wage earners, free medical is provided to the poor.
Alternative health care financing mechanisms have been explored and
implemented as a means to provide quality health to the people innovatively.
The role of the private practitioners has also been augmented so that they
will be able to provide quality health care services to the people and also
contribute to the health and wellbeing of the people of Myanmar.  Since the
Department of Export and Promotion of the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand in
cooperation with the Private Hospitals Association of Thailand is holding Thai
Health Care Services Exhibition and Presentation on " The Overview of Hospital
Activities and Services in Thailand", the hospital administrators will receive
information regarding the hospital activities and services in Thailand which
is one of the neighbouring countries with Myanmar. As Myanmar is a member of
ASEAN, it is necessary to have information regarding the health care
activities of neighbouring countries so that future cooperation and
coordination for health development could be carried out in the spirit of
Regional Solidarity. Myanmar and Thailand have closely collaborated in the
health sector in many areas. The most recent was the visit of Thai Ear
Surgical Mobile Unit which gave treatment and restored hearing to many
patients in Taunggyi, Meiktila and Pakokku Townships. Dr. Pongsiri Prathnadi
of Certified Board of Surgery and Certified Board of Thoracic Surgery
explained matters related to private hospitals and health care services in
Thailand, and replied to the queries raised by those present."
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