The Ministry of Health and Sports decided to transfer seven assistant doctors from Mon State to Rakhine State. Among the doctors, three worked as assistants at the Mawlamyine General Hospital, another three served at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and one worked at the Ye Township People’s Hospital.
The decision for the transfer was made at a coordination meeting of the Management Committee of the Ministry of Health and Sports held on January 14, 2021(14-1-2021), according to the Minister of Health, Dr. Myint Htwe.
The doctors were all assigned to work at the People’s Hospital in Buthidaung, Rakhine State, Ann Township, Rambree Township, Maungdaw Township.
The doctors do not know why they were transferred.
“Rakhine is a place where no one wants to go. Why and which rules did they follow to send us to a place where no one wanted to go? Did they send us because something went wrong? No one is in opposition. Usually, the departmental ones are sent to Rakhine, for example, if something goes wrong. We can not even think about why we are being sent,” said one of the doctors.
The doctors feel that the Ministry of Health and Sports has not been transparent about the rationale for the transfers of healthcare workers. The doctors are seeking clarity of the policy on transfers. There is an understanding that after one year of service, healthcare workers can be transferred to the nearest place in the region or state.
“There are many places in Mon State where doctors can be sent. If you don’t know why, perhaps, we are being sent to Rakhine after committing some crime! There is no doctor in Rakhine. If they need the doctor, are we the only ones among the many doctors? Why were only people from the Mon State taken away? All of us have five years experience. We have a lot of experience, so there are a lot of places needed outside of Rakhine,” added the doctor.
“If necessary, appoint doctors from Rakhine State. Another point, we were appointed by the Mon State government (to work here) at the request of the Union government,” said a doctor who used to work for the regional program.
Dr. Banyar Aung Moe, who won a seat in the Pyithu Hluttaw, commented that the transfer of doctors from Mon State to Rakhine State near the end of the government’s term is being closely monitored.
