Evaluation of progress toward universal health coverage in Myanmar

What is it about?

We adapt a previously developed UHC index, and we apply it to the context of Myanmar while using the most recent nationally and subnationally representative data. Our analysis yields robust links between socioeconomic development and UHC at subnational level in Myanmar. More importantly, our analysis also suggests significant pro-rich inequities in access to essential healthcare services, which are driven by both wealth and availability of healthcare. Finally, we find robust evidence that the poor, in addition to having a more limited access to healthcare, are more likely to spend higher share of their domestic budgets on healthcare, thus having a greater risk of suffering a financial catastrophe

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Photo by Yves Alarie on Unsplash

Photo by Yves Alarie on Unsplash

Why is it important?

• There is a significant heterogeneity in UHC progress in Myanmar broadly reflecting socioeconomic disparities across states and regions. • Progress toward UHC could be achieved by investing in healthcare as well as by adopting protective measures that would reduce the financial burden of seeking healthcare. • Our results could provide a benchmark for assessing Myanmar’s efforts toward UHC, particularly given the uncertainties with the recent political turmoil.