Doctor shortages plague local healthcare realities for many in AA-held Arakan

By Admin 10 Sep 2025

DMG Newsroom

10 September 2025

The health sector in areas controlled by the Arakan Army (AA) remains weak and there are shortages of specialist doctors, with people facing many difficulties in accessing proper healthcare.

There are only a handful of dentists, ophthalmologists, neurologists, obstetricians, orthopedists, and general practitioners in hospitals and clinics in areas controlled by the Arakan Army.

For diseases that do not fall under the scope of an available specialty, people are treated only by general practitioners.

"There is no doctor who can diagnose the disease, so we have to see a general practitioner. We have to explain the disease in a vague way. And the equipment is not enough. A girl next door had a toothache and went to the doctor to have it extracted, but they didn't do anything because they didn't have the equipment to look at it in detail," said a local woman in Kyauktaw.

Some newly appointed doctors arrived in Arakan State, but were forced to move to mainland Myanmar due to fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army.

The number of qualified doctors in Arakan State is dwindling, making healthcare for the people a major challenge.

"There were about 500 patients waiting in line for a doctor. I had to wait for an emergency appointment because the doctor's appointments were full for the next five days," said a pregnant woman from Mrauk-U.

Some patients who need specialised medical care are trying to travel to mainland Myanmar for treatment, but travel is difficult due to the military regime's roadblocks.

Only a few who can afford it travel to India for treatment, spending large sums to do so.

The military regime has blocked supply routes into Arakan State, leading to a severe shortage of medicine and medical supplies.

Locals say the public is facing many difficulties in the healthcare sector, as there is a lack of even essential medicines and medical supplies.

"The shortage of doctors in Arakan State is already worse at this time. In the short term, I think we should try to get volunteer doctors and specialists from mainland Myanmar to work in Arakan State. We should attract doctors who come to work by providing them with adequate salaries, benefits, and security guarantees," said a young social activist in Arakan State.

A DMG inquiry to AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha, to find out what will be done about the shortage of doctors in AA-controlled areas, went unanswered as of press time.

The Arakan Army says it is providing training and strengthening the health sector to improve health services for the people in Arakan State.