CNI News
27 Jan 2023
Although transportation of medicines to Rakhine State has been permitted, there are difficulties to transport medicines from Sittwe to other townships, according to medicine merchants and distributors.
Although transportation of medicines from Yangon to Sittwe in Rakhine State has been permitted under the approval of the border and security affairs minister, checkpoints in Rakhine State are asking for permission documents to transport medicines from Sittwe to other townships in Rakhine State, a medicine distributor in Sittwe todl the CNI.
He said, "It is still difficult to travel from Yangon to Sittwe and more difficult to transport medicines from Sittwe to other townships in Rakhine State, especially to Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw and Kyaukphyu. Even if we submit permissions from the border and security affairs minister, they did not allow us to transport medicines to the townships. When a customer from Kyaukphyu places an order to us, we will have to apply for permission from the minister and it takes about two weeks. So, customers place orders in Yangon directly. It is especially difficult to transport medicines to southern Rakhine State."
A pharmacy in Rakhine State.
As it is difficult to transport medicines from Sittwe to other townships in Rakhine State, medical supplies are being transported from Yangon to some townships in Rakhine State like Mrauk-U and Kyaukphyu.
As transportation of medicines is still difficult in Rakhine State, medicine companies and patients are still encountering problems.
As transportation of medicines from one township to another is still difficult in Rakhine State, medicine prices have not decreased and the public may even face shortages of medicines.
When fighting escalated between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army in July, 2022, some roads and waterways were blocked and transportation of medicines was prohibited.
A pharmacy in Rakhine State.
Then, the two sides reached a ceasefire deal and transportation of medicine has been permitted but still requires the permission of the border and security affairs ministers. However, it takes a long time to get permission from the minister and transportation of medicine are often delayed, Chairman U Tin Aung Oo of the Rakhine State Chamber of Commerce told the CNI.
He said, "We can transport medicines to Sittwe with the approval of the mnister. However, transportation of medicines to Rakhine State was banned for a long time, and shortages still persist. As permission is granted, medicine prices have started to be stable. However, transportation of medicines is still delayed. Merchants have to wait a few days to get permission to transport medicines.
As transportation of medicines via land routes has to pass through many checkpoints, there are delays and some merchants have chosen flights to do so, according to medicine merchants.
