The handing over ceremony of the new hospital building constructed under the “Project for improving Lashio General Hospital in Shan State (Phase I)” was held on 6 December, 2016 (Tuesday).

This project will improve the core hospital in the region by constructing a two-story new ward, including the outpatient department, cancer department and laboratory, etc.

In addition, in the coming February, another new ward is going to be built in this hospital under the Phase II of this project. The estimated total cost of a couple of project is about 1.5 billion yen.

H.E. Dr. Lin Htut, Chief Minister of Shan State, Prof. Thet Khaing Win, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Sport from the Myanmar Government and Mr. Hideaki MATSUO, Counsellor of Economic and Development Assistance Section of the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Keiichiro NAKAZAWA, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Myanmar Office from Japanese side attended this ceremony.

Mr. MATSUO stated that this project will contribute to the improvement of Myanmar medical services by improving the medical services of Lashio General Hospital which is the core hospital in the region in his key note speech.

Dr. Lin Htut also made key note speech and stated that he was very glad that the hospital, which he once worked for as a dentist, was beautifully reconstructed. He hoped that this hospital will contribute to the improvement of the medical services in the region. Dr. Thet Khaing Win, Permanent Secretary, also said that Japan is the greatest donor, which has been continuously supporting the health sector in Myanmar for long time. He also thanked for the fact that Japan is planning to support the other general hospitals likewise.

There were more patients in Lashio General Hospital, situated in the northern part of the Shan state, than other hospitals in the same health administrative district. But, the services were not good enough as the core hospital because of its aging facilities and equipment. And, the improvement of those facilities and equipment was the urgent issue.