Image: A patient undergoes blood pressure monitoring at the New Day Health clinic in South Dagon, Yangon, Myanmar. (Lwin Phyu Phyu Kyaw/CPI)
Non-communicable diseases kill more people in Myanmar than anything else. Yet diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease often go undetected. Public awareness stays low, and many families fear the cost of lifelong treatment. In South Dagon Township, Yangon, one clinic offers affordable NCD care to low and middle-income households. Community Partners International (CPI) supports its work. Two patients explain what that access has meant for them.
“Three years ago, I had severe headaches and lost consciousness,” recounts Daw Thwin, 67, who lives in South Dagon Township in Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial capital. “I went to a private clinic, and they diagnosed me with hypertension and diabetes,” she continues. “Until that point, I didn’t know I was ill.” Doctors later diagnosed her husband, 72, with hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease.
Her experience is common. Across Myanmar, NCDs account for an estimated two out of every three deaths. Because symptoms build slowly, many people learn about their condition only after a crisis. Affordable NCD care is also scarce, particularly for households on low incomes.
“Almost every household in the country is affected by at least one type of non-communicable disease,” reveals Dr. Win, a physician at the Nae Thit Kyan Mar (“New Day Health”) clinic in South Dagon. “I have hypertension,” he shares, “and both of my parents suffer from hypertension and heart disease.”
Diet compounds the risk. WHO ranks unhealthy diet among the main behavioral risk factors for NCDs, alongside tobacco use and physical inactivity. Dr. Win sees the same pattern locally. “In our culture, many people don’t maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle,” he continues. “There’s a preference for sweet, fatty, and salty foods, which worsens the problem. This lack of a healthy lifestyle can significantly increase the incidence of NCDs in the community.”
New Day Health runs as a social enterprise. CPI supports the clinic so it can serve low and middle-income households in peri-urban Yangon. Its affordable NCD care covers prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
A cost-share model keeps prices down. Patients and donors split the cost of treatment. Meanwhile, people without the means to pay receive care free of charge. As a result, affordable NCD care reaches households that private clinics price out.
For Daw Thwin and her husband, the clinic is a lifeline. Neither of them works now, and both depend on their daughter. “Our daughter is our main support,” she confirms. “She’s a small trader, and her hard work sustains us. We have four children, but the others can’t help as they’re also struggling.”
“Long-term treatment at a private clinic isn’t financially possible for us,” Daw Thwin continues. “The New Day Health clinic offers treatment at affordable prices. That’s why we chose it, and we have been coming for three years now.”
Their routine is straightforward. “We visit the clinic once every 45 days,” Daw Thwin confirms. “They check on us and provide medicine for the next 45 days. We can buy medicines for diabetes and hypertension at affordable prices. Sometimes, they provide check-ups free of charge.”
For U Aung Min, 44, another patient at the clinic, the consequences ran deeper. “Twelve years ago, the clinic treated me for free for TB,” he explains. “At the time, I felt dizzy. The doctor recommended a diabetes test, and the results were positive. Two years later, I was diagnosed with hypertension.”
U U Aung Min at the New Day Health clinic in South Dagon, Yangon, Myanmar. (Lwin Phyu Phyu Kyaw/CPI)
Then he stopped going. “To be honest, I didn’t follow the lifestyle changes recommended by the clinic,” he reveals. “In 2021, the clinic closed temporarily. When it re-opened, I didn’t go back for two years. A small wound on my foot wouldn’t heal properly. Eventually, it got so bad I had to have my leg amputated. I lost a leg because I didn’t follow the clinic’s advice.”
Today he cannot work. “I live with my sister’s family,” he confirms. “I rely on my sister and nephews for living and medical expenses.”
Myanmar’s economy continues to deteriorate. Nearly half the population now lives below the national poverty line. As a result, affordable NCD care grows harder to sustain each year, particularly with rising inflation.
Demand keeps climbing. “As of June 2024, about 400 patients have enrolled for NCD services at our clinic,” reveals Dr. Win. “More patients are coming to us because private pharmacies have become more expensive due to the country’s situation. We are trying to stabilize prices and minimize drug shortages to the best of our ability.”
The clinic wants to push affordable NCD care further. “We plan to introduce a subscription model to broaden affordable access to NCD diagnosis and treatment,” Dr. Win continues. “For example, patients could pay an affordable monthly subscription and enjoy unlimited health care services at the clinic.”
Until then, patients like Daw Thwin and U Aung Min depend on the current model of affordable NCD care.
“If we had to go to a private clinic, we wouldn’t be able to sustain long-term treatment,” confirms Daw Thwin. “The clinic staff are very kind and helpful and provide excellent care. I feel better now – no dizziness or other symptoms. I take medicine regularly and avoid sweets and salty food.”
“Losing a leg was a big shock,” reveals U Aung Min. “Now, I’m committed to following the clinic’s advice. I eat healthier food and take better care of myself. The staff are professional, careful, and patient. They help me manage and treat my illnesses. If I went to a private clinic, I wouldn’t be able to afford it.”
Community Partners International (CPI) strengthens, equips and connects local organizations in Myanmar, Bangladesh and Thailand providing health and humanitarian services to conflict- and poverty-affected communities.
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