ULA opens medical school to improve healthcare in Arakan State

By Admin 12 Jan 2026

DMG Newsroom

12 January 2026, Mrauk-U

The United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA), which controls most of Arakan State, has opened a medical school to strengthen healthcare services for the local population.

According to a statement, the medical school was opened by the ULA Department of Public Health to meet the growing need for doctors and to better serve the healthcare needs of the people of Arakan State.

The department began accepting applications for admission on December 24, 2025.

The statement said the school is aimed at young people who wish to pursue a career in medicine and take on national responsibilities in the construction of Arakan State.

"I think the health sector is very important because Arakan State is currently under construction. If there are more medical professionals in Arakan State, we will be able to provide better healthcare services to the people than before. That is why I am proud to open a medical school," said a woman working at a ULA department.

According to the statement, applicants must be residents of Arakan State and under the age of 25. Applicants from outside the state may also apply if they meet the specified educational requirements.

A young man said the opening of a medical school in Arakan State is an opportunity for young people interested in medicine, but security concerns must also be considered.

"The location of the medical school should be a safe place. The more schools the ULA can open, the better. It would also be beneficial if it could be linked to sending scholars abroad. I would like to add that people should be treated equally regardless of race or religion," said a local youth in Kyauktaw Township.

Applicants who passed the old system Matriculation Examination must have a combined science background, with at least 70 marks in each of Biology, Physics, and Chemistry, at least 60 marks in English, and a total score of more than 400 marks.

According to the ULA Department of Education, applicants who passed Grade 12 under the new system must have passed the science stream, with grades of B or above in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, and a grade of C or above in English, with a score of at least 70.

"The requirements for applying to the medical school are somewhat high, so they should be relaxed before inviting young people from across the country. Many young people who meet the requirements often leave for mainland Myanmar. If corruption and bribery can be prevented during the application process, qualified professionals will emerge. This is a good step, but it needs to be adapted to the needs of young people," said a young man in Mrauk-U.

Applicants who passed the Basic Education Completion Assessment (BECA) after 2022 must have passed science subjects, with grades of B or above in Biology and Chemistry, and a score of 80 or above in English.

The statement also said that GED (General Educational Development) graduates must have scores of 165 or higher in Science and Mathematical Reasoning, and at least 145 in Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) and Social Studies.

Applicants who passed the IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) must have a grade of B or above in Biology, Chemistry, Human Biology, Mathematics, and Physics, and a grade of C or above in English as a Second Language.

According to the statement, the medical programme will last seven years, and graduates will be required to sign an oath to serve as employees of the ULA Department of Public Health.

Separately, the ULA Department of Public Health is also recruiting women aged 25 and over for midwifery training in August 2025.