Myanmar seeks foreign investment in healthcare

myanmar-hospital1Myanmar is in dire need to improve its healthcare system and is now looking for more investment from abroad into the sector. While several leading regional healthcare companies are already operating in Myanmar, others plan to enter soon, seeing huge potential in the country’s underserved population of about 60 million people, Reuters reported.

Attracting foreign investment is part of an overhaul of the healthcare system by the quasi-civilian government that took over from the army in 2011. The administration of President Thein Sein has cut military spending and raised healthcare funding to 3 per cent of government spending this fiscal year 2013/14 to March 31, from 1 per cent in the previous year.

The health ministry is drawing up regulations for foreign hospital operators to open facilities in Myanmar independently or through joint ventures.

Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Pcl, Thailand’s largest private hospital group, sees Myanmar as the company’s “first priority for foreign investment”, said Chief Operating Officer Chatree Duangnet. But Duangnet added that the company was waiting for the government to make the investment laws clearer.

Amiruddin Abdul Satar, president of Kuala Lumpur-listed hospital operator KPJ Healthcare Bhd, said his company was involved in the management of one hospital already and the government had invited them to expand. The company declined to give further details or reveal the amount of its planned investment.

Singapore healthcare provider AsiaMedic Ltd said in a June statement it had signed an initial joint venture agreement with Five Oceans Service Co Ltd, a Myanmar company, to invest at least $3 million to set up diagnostic scanners in two hospitals in the northern city of Mandalay.



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Myanmar is in dire need to improve its healthcare system and is now looking for more investment from abroad into the sector. While several leading regional healthcare companies are already operating in Myanmar, others plan to enter soon, seeing huge potential in the country's underserved population of about 60 million people, Reuters reported. Attracting foreign investment is part of an overhaul of the healthcare system by the quasi-civilian government that took over from the army in 2011. The administration of President Thein Sein has cut military spending and raised healthcare funding to 3 per cent of government spending this fiscal...

myanmar-hospital1Myanmar is in dire need to improve its healthcare system and is now looking for more investment from abroad into the sector. While several leading regional healthcare companies are already operating in Myanmar, others plan to enter soon, seeing huge potential in the country’s underserved population of about 60 million people, Reuters reported.

Attracting foreign investment is part of an overhaul of the healthcare system by the quasi-civilian government that took over from the army in 2011. The administration of President Thein Sein has cut military spending and raised healthcare funding to 3 per cent of government spending this fiscal year 2013/14 to March 31, from 1 per cent in the previous year.

The health ministry is drawing up regulations for foreign hospital operators to open facilities in Myanmar independently or through joint ventures.

Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Pcl, Thailand’s largest private hospital group, sees Myanmar as the company’s “first priority for foreign investment”, said Chief Operating Officer Chatree Duangnet. But Duangnet added that the company was waiting for the government to make the investment laws clearer.

Amiruddin Abdul Satar, president of Kuala Lumpur-listed hospital operator KPJ Healthcare Bhd, said his company was involved in the management of one hospital already and the government had invited them to expand. The company declined to give further details or reveal the amount of its planned investment.

Singapore healthcare provider AsiaMedic Ltd said in a June statement it had signed an initial joint venture agreement with Five Oceans Service Co Ltd, a Myanmar company, to invest at least $3 million to set up diagnostic scanners in two hospitals in the northern city of Mandalay.



Support ASEAN news

Investvine has been a consistent voice in ASEAN news for more than a decade. From breaking news to exclusive interviews with key ASEAN leaders, we have brought you factual and engaging reports – the stories that matter, free of charge.

Like many news organisations, we are striving to survive in an age of reduced advertising and biased journalism. Our mission is to rise above today’s challenges and chart tomorrow’s world with clear, dependable reporting.

Support us now with a donation of your choosing. Your contribution will help us shine a light on important ASEAN stories, reach more people and lift the manifold voices of this dynamic, influential region.

 

 

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