Dr Myint Htwe, Union Minister for Health and Sports. Photo: MNA
The allocation of ambulances to hospitals, clothing and food allowances for medical staff, and tobacco control were among the issues discussed at yesterday’s Amyotha Hluttaw meeting.
Dr Myint Htwe, the Union Minister for Health and Sports replied to the question raised by U Sai Pan Pha of constituency 12 in Kayah State about how ambulances are allocated to hospitals.
“The Ministry of Health and Sports had given ambulances to hospitals at the central level, with 100-bed hospitals at the district level already receiving ambulances in previous years. Now there are only 94 township general hospitals in 10 townships left to be provided with ambulances. Under the present principles, ambulances will be given out to township-level hospitals only. For the time being, there are not any programmes to provide ambulances to station hospitals, station and rural health departments, or rural health departments (branches). Therefore, there is no arrangement to provide an ambulance to Hosae village in Maesae township.”
Regarding a question about clothing and food allowances for medical staff raised by Dr Kyaw Ngwe of constituency 10, Magway Region, Dr Myint Htwe said the monetary allowances may soon increase.
“Of all the medical staff serving in the departments under the Ministry of Health and Sports, midwives, nurses and matrons were granted Ks30 for food per month each and Ks5 for suits per year.
Now the Ministry has submitted to the Economic Committee of the Union Government to grant Ks20,000 instead of Ks30 for food per month during the training period and Ks20,000 for a suit per year instead of Ks5. If the Union Government’s approval is made, all the staff would enjoy allowances according to the newly-set rates. Afterward, the Union Minister replied to questions raised by U Mahn Law Moung of constituency 8 in Chin State, U Lal Min Htan of constituency 10 in Chin State, and U Myo Htat (a) Salai Myo Htike of constituency 12 in Chin State.
After that, regarding “the motion urging the Union Government to deal with the weakness in arresting the cases by authorities concerned although laws on control of cigars and tobacco was promulgated,” put forward by Dr San Maung Maung of constituency 1, in Bago Region, Dr Mya Thaung of constituency 7 of Bago Region, Dr Than Win of constituency 1 of Mandalay Region, Major Zaw Tun, Tatmadaw representative, Dr Zaw Lin Htut of constituency 9 in Mon State, Dr Tin Tin Win of constituency 5 in Bago Region, U Win Zaw of constituency 7 in Kachin State, U Kyaw Ni Naing of constituency 11 in Shan State and Daw Htu May of constituency 11 in Rakhine State seconded respectively.
It has been learnt that 2nd Amyotha Hluttaw 5th Regular Session’s 20th day meeting will be held on 26th June.
Thura Zaw & Mi Mi Phyo (MNA)