Cottage hospitals on Rathedaung Twsp island devoid of doctors

28 Jan 2023

DMG Newsroom
28 January 2023, Rathedaung

Local people on Moese Island in Arakan State’s Rathedaung Township are struggling to access public healthcare services as the island’s hospitals are devoid of doctors.

There are only two cottage hospitals — Ugar and Kutaung hospitals — on Moese Island, which hosts a total of 28 villages.

The 16-bed facility in Ugar Village has not had a doctor since it was put into commission in 2020. The hospital is currently run by a senior nurse. 

“Ugar cottage hospital was built some three years ago, but there is still no doctor. Local residents have a lot of difficulties [receiving medical treatment],” said Ko Maung Myat Aung, a resident of Ugar Village.

The other cottage hospital, in Kutaung Village, has not had a doctor for more than a month, according to residents.

Village administrators have officially asked authorities by letter to assign doctors to Ugar Hospital, but there has been no response, according to locals.

The doctor working at Kutaung cottage hospital transferred to another hospital in December.

Sick residents have to travel to Rathedaung town or the Arakan State capital Sittwe to receive treatment. However, roads in Moese Island are gravel facilities, and gravely ill patients put themselves at serious risk by travelling on rough gravel roads, said the former administrator of Kutaung Village, U Than Aung.

“The road is very bumpy. When there is a doctor at Kutaung hospital, people go there if they have health problems. Now, they have to go to town, which includes a ride along the bumpy roads to the jetty. So, it is risky for them,” he said.

Local residents have called on authorities to assign doctors to the cottage hospitals on Moese Island as soon as possible.

Said Ko Maung Myat Aung: “The gravel roads are not convenient for travel. What’s more, we have to cross the river to get to Sittwe or Rathedaung. So, we locals do want to have doctors at the cottage hospitals.”

DMG phone calls to the head of the Arakan State Health Department, Dr. Kyi Lwin, and Arakan State Administration Council spokesman U Hla Thein went unanswered.