Myanmar Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
Content about Myanmar on WorldSupporter
How does health care work in Myanmar, and what travel insurance, health insurance or expat insurance do you need?
How does health care work in Myanmar, and what travel insurance, health insurance or expat insurance do you need?
- How does the health and healthcare system work in Myanmar?
- How does the public health care work in Myanmar?
- How does the private health care work in Myanmar?
- How is the family doctor arranged in Myanmar?
- How is the dentist arranged in Myanmar?
- How is the pregnancy care arranged in Myanmar?
- How safe or unsafe is a trip or stay in Myanmar?
- What should you look out for in terms of diseases in Myanmar?
- What work and travel insurance policies are suitable for short and long stays in Myanmar?
- What emigration and expat insurance can you take out for Myanmar if you are going to live there for a while?
How does the health and healthcare system work in Myanmar?
- In Myanmar, health care leaves much to be desired. The sector is underdeveloped and emigrants often rely on private clinics or travel to neighboring countries such as Thailand for better care.
- According to the World Health Organization, Myanmar ranks almost at the bottom of the list of health care achievements.
- There is also a lot of medical inequality in Myanmar. Most facilities can be found in cities like Yangon and Mangalay, despite most Burmese living in rural areas.
- Local health insurance is only available to government employees and locals. Expats can purchase their own private health insurance.
How does the public health care work in Myanmar?
- Government hospitals provide basic care, often at low cost.
- Quality is limited due to a lack of resources, personnel and modern equipment.
- Care is particularly limited in rural areas. In urban areas such as Yangon and Mandalay, there are more options, but the standard remains low compared to Western standards.
- Long waiting times, scarcity of medicines and lack of English-speaking staff make public care less accessible to expats.
- In public hospitals, you cannot rely on help in English.
How does the private health care work in Myanmar?
- Private clinics and hospitals, such as the Yangon International Medical Centre, offer better care. These institutions often cater to expatriates and the local elite. Unfortunately, though, there are only a handful of private clinics.
- Private care is significantly better equipped and has English-speaking doctors, but the standard is not always consistent.
- Expect higher costs than public care, but often still lower than in Western countries.
- In the end, many emigrants still choose medical treatment abroad, for example, India, Malaysia, Singapore or Thailand.
How is the family doctor arranged in Myanmar?
- General practitioners can be found in Myanmar, but it is not easy. Most likely you will find them at private clinics.
How is the dentist arranged in Myanmar?
- Dental care is available through both public and private clinics. Expats almost always choose private dentists because of better hygiene and quality.
- Private clinics in cities like Yangon have dentists who are well trained, sometimes even abroad.
- Dental care is affordable compared to Western countries.
How is the pregnancy care arranged in Myanmar?
- In Myanmar, women in rural areas have very little access to pregnancy care.
- Private hospitals and international clinics are the best choice for prenatal care because of better facilities and English-speaking staff.
- Private clinics offer safer and more comfortable options, but travel to Thailand is often recommended for complex situations.
How safe or unsafe is a trip or stay in Myanmar?
What should you pay attention to in terms of safety in Myanmar?
- There has been much social and political unrest in Myanmar since the military takeover in 2021. Therefore, it is mostly not recommended to travel to the country.
- Some areas you are not allowed to enter, other areas are (sometimes) under curfew, such as Yangon, for example. Be aware of the latest situation.
- Most crime is only of a small and non-violent scale. Think bag-robberies, theft and (sales) scams.
- There is a risk of landmines in rural areas.
- There is also a risk of incarceration, especially for journalists and human rights activists.
- Tropical cyclones sometimes occur between mid-April and mid-May, and in October and November. There is also a risk of earthquakes.
What should you look out for in terms of diseases in Myanmar?
- Health risks include mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, the zika virus and chikungunya.
- You can also catch schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection, in water and there are several diseases you can contract through contaminated food and water.
What should you pay attention to in terms of traffic in Myanmar?
- Driving a car is especially risky during the May-October rainy season. Because of landslides, roads can be blocked and bridges can be damaged.
- Roads can also be blocked by the military and the opposition.
- Road accidents occur regularly, not only because of safety standards, but also because of the condition of vehicles.
What work and travel insurance policies are suitable for short and long stays in Myanmar?
- Is the trip to Myanmar and your return sufficiently covered? Are you sufficiently covered before, during and after your activities? Which insurance best suits your trip and your activity? Read more about insurances for abroad on JoHoinsurances.org.
What emigration and expat insurance can you take out for Myanmar if you are going to live there for a while?
- It is not mandatory to have insurance to move to Myanmar. Nevertheless, it is wise to take out one because of the state of medical care and the risk of needed medical evacuations. Read more about insurances for abroad on Expatinsurances.org.
- Continue reading about emigrating to Myanmar or preparing a trip to Myanmar.
Myanmar: Updates & Travel
Myanmar: Updates & Travel
Travel in Myanmar?
- There is a lot to do in Myanmar. Myanmar has impressive temples, beautiful nature and breathtaking beaches. Within Myanmar there is political unrest and interreligious tensions. As a tourist you will not notice much of this. The population is downright friendly and welcomes tourists with open arms.
- Cycle to the temples in Bagan early in the morning, and climb to the top of one of the temples to watch the rising sun. A beautiful sight where hundreds of temples are slowly illuminated and hot air balloons decorate the sky. Use your bike to cruise through the park for the rest of the day so that you can admire the temples and markets.
- Take a boat trip on Inle Lake. During this trip you will sail past temples, see how traditional fishermen use local techniques for the catch of the day, pass traditional weaving houses and sail past the houses of Long Necks. It is recommended to go early in the morning or late afternoon so that you can also enjoy a beautiful sunrise or sunset. Don't forget to rent a bike here to discover the most beautiful places around the lake and in the surrounding mountain area.
- Walk from Inle Lake to Kalaw in two or three days. This beautiful tour, which you must take with a guide, takes you past the most beautiful forests, arable land and remote, traditional villages, where you will also spend the night(s).
- Myanmar has the longest coastline in Asia, which is characterized by beautiful white beaches and blue sea. The beaches are still relatively rarely visited by tourists because it is often an undertaking to get there due to impassable roads. Nevertheless, it is certainly worth visiting, for example, Ngapali or Ngwe Saung, these locations are already more accessible in terms of transport and accommodation.
- Visit the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon and go to the Bogyoke Aung San market for beautiful handmade items. It is also the city where the Myanmarese politician Aung San Suu Kyi stayed during years of house arrest. From Mandalay, take an excursion to Amarpura, an old royal city with the longest wooden pedestrian bridge in the world (1,200 meters). The bridge made of teak is a relaxing place and walking route for the many monks from the nearby Mahagandhayon monastery, all of which gives the bridge a special appearance. From the bridge you have a beautiful view of the surroundings.
- Bagan was the former capital of the Pagan empire and has the largest number of Buddhist temples, ruins and stupas in the world (more than a thousand). Bagan is also a place of pilgrimage for Theravada Buddhists.
- Lake Inle is especially known for its villages built on stilts and the floating markets and gardens. Take a boat trip to Ywama or to one of the markets and visit the villages around the lake by bike.
- Ngapali is characterized by quiet white sandy beaches and crystal clear water. Beach and sea at the Bengal Bay.
- Be aware of the political situation. Even in a teahouse there can be informers who can overhear a discussion you are having with the locals. A few negative comments can land these people in jail. So make sure you listen carefully when people are alone, but don't tempt them to make statements in public places. Also don't try to extract stories from people. The Burmese prefer not to talk about their ideas about the regime for fear of their safety.
- The rainy season, from June to October, in the south is not very pleasant; a lot of rain and humidity that can rise to 95%. Tip: Travel further north, where it is relatively dry.
- The end of the Burma railway line in Thanbyuzayat is now a small commercial museum, where there is little scientific evidence regarding the information provided.
Updates Myanmar
- More about Myanmar, updates and contributions, see the link below.
Myanmar: selection of contributions by WorldSupporters - Bundle
Myanmar: selection of contributions by WorldSupporters - Bundle
Content about Myanmar shared by WorldSupporters
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