Myanmar improves in Global Peace Index ranking
Peace seems to be improving in Myanmar as the 2016 Global Peace Index report has ranked the country at the 115th spot, which is a stark improvement compared to its ranking last year. Myanmar was ranked 130 in previous years' Peace Index.
The Global Peace Index was instituted in 2007 by the Institute for Economics and Peace, an international think tank, that collects the data and conducts the research. The index considers a gamut of indicators to arrive at its Peace Index, including terrorism, military expenditure and political instability. This year a total of 163 countries were analysed to prepare the index.
Apparently, Myanmar's peace ranking is better than India, which is ranked 141st in the list, while Syria has emerged as the least peaceful country.
How do you see this when visiting in Myanmar?
More previously closed areas are now accessible easier and more tourist destinations has been opened during the last six years. Also there is no more curfew, that used to be the fact of life for decades. When I have been staying in country, I have not seen anything disturbing anymore, thou I have not visited the rural areas and stayed mainly on Yangon area. During my visits end of 80's and early 90's, there was military present everywhere and people were acting very hesitantly, comparing today.
Major problems with peace issue today are the mountain border areas (India, China, Laos) with the limited possibilities to control them. That allows the areas to thrive with illegal activities including smuggling, logging, drug business and general disregard of the laws. However the major cities are very peaceful and relatively safe to visit and stay.
Education news from Mandalay
Just over one-third of students who sat for their matriculation exams this year in Mandalay Region have passed, the Department of Basic Education announced. The result is higher than the national pass rate of 29.9 percent announced in state media this weekend.
Out of 91,688 who registered for the exam in Mandalay, 35.5pc – or 32,551 students – achieved scores high enough to matriculate. Those who passed will now be allowed to register for university education.
Results revealed on June 11 were slightly down from last year, when 38.6pc of students passed. Last year the national pass rate was 37.6pc.
“I was so excited when I checked my results. I was worried, but I am happy because I passed with one distinction,” said Ma Su Myat Phyo, who took her tests at the Aung Myay Tharzan township exam centre.
Within Mandalay Region, the highest percentage of students passed in Mandalay district, at 40.58pc. The order from there was 38.06pc in Meiktila, 38.46pc in Pyin Oo Lwin, 31.32pc in Nyaung-U, 31.06pc in Myingyan and 29.55pc in Yamethin. Kyaukse District scored lowest at 29.44pc.
“I am relieved that my child passed the matriculation exam. It is important for them to be able to choose the right next steps for their future,” said U Ye Win Aung, a parent from Pyigyitagun township, part of Mandalay district.
Though unwilling to comment on the results, some parents said teaching methods have to be improved in order to achieve a higher graduate rate in the future.
“I am not in the position to comment on the percentages of the results. But, I would like to say that teaching for grade 11 matriculation students may need to change,” U Ye Win Aung said.
Out of all students who passed in Mandalay Region, nearly 25pc received distinctions, including 279 students who received distinctions for six subjects.
Medicine news
25 percent of the drugs available in local pharmacies are illegal or substandard.
In an ongoing effort to clamp down on the illegal and unregulated pharmaceutical black market, a Food and Drug Administration director announced plans yesterday to institute official retail prices.
The Maximum Retail Price (MRP) will stop businesses from staging a price war over official medications, and ideally will protect consumers, said Dr Than Htut, director general of the FDA.
Because of the price difference between registered and unregistered medicines in local markets, many patients cannot afford the legal product, he said.
He added that he intends to out-price the illegal market and will model the MRP system on India’s.
“Tomorrow I am going to join the [National Health Committee] meeting … where I will propose to implement this plan,” he said, referring to an advocacy and education conference for the pharmaceutical industry in Yangon.
Dr Thit Lwin, owner of a pharmacy wholesale shop in Mingalar Taung Nyunt township, said that while he supports better regulating the industry, a crackdown on prices needs to keep in mind the average patient’s limited budget.
“Unregistered medicine is very popular, with at least 100 kinds in one shop to meet the demand. Most people find and use cheap medicine because they are poor and the price between legal [registered] and illegal [unregistered but not necessarily fake] medicine is very different,” he said.
Dr Thit Lwin added that some patients need medicines that are not readily available in state health facilities, or are not purchased by the government. He gave the example of cancer medications, some of which are not registered by the state, driving desperate patients to underground imports. He said that while registered brands can cost K100,000, (about EUR 75.-) a bottle of the same medication that has not been registered will cost K50,000 to 60,000.
He added that if the FDA shuts down the medical black market many patients will be in trouble.
“I am not urging the government to accept unlicensed medicine, but they need to register more medicines, control prices and arrange enough essential drugs,” he said.
My experience is that they have branded drugs as well as non-branded same drugs sold in same store. You can make your own decision, which one to buy. Price difference is substantial, could be 10 times. Major issues in Myanmar currently are with this field that;
1. Most of the products comes over the border without any real control. You pay some lump sum of "tax" and your cargo can be anything. Or the smaller items, like medicine, are just carried in backpack.
2. Medicin is sold without any control anywhere. The laws are not there or if they are, I don't see them followed. You can buy pretty much any medicine without any doctor control with low prices, if they are available.
3. Many hospitals do not have drugs or materials themself. Patient have to go and buy everything if they have operation or medical treatment in hospital. Other Asian countries hospitals have also their own pharmacies so patients can get the medicine as soon as they leave the hospital and all medical materials are supplied from hospital, this is not the case in Myanmar.
4. If you have money, it is often easier and better to fly to Bangkok or Singapore for treatment.
Government should concentrate their affords first offering proper medical care with real hospital services, before going in to target "illegal" medicine business. After there is proper channels available, it is surely easier to suspend illegal drug sale and make proper licensed business practices for it. As long as there are no proper medical supply from legal channels and hospitals, all kind of unauthorized business will be standard in this field.
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