Since the military seized power from Myanmar’s democratically-elected government on 1 February 2021, a poorly functioning public healthcare system, devastated economy and widespread insecurity is impacting access to healthcare for people living with HIV. The government’s National AIDS Programme clinics have either closed or been run with a skeleton staff due to medical staff striking in protest of the military government. MSF stepped up to fill the gap by providing drug refills, diagnostic testing and consultations to thousands of patients registered with the NAP in areas where we work, but significant challenges remain for patients to access the life-saving treatment they need.

For over 20 years, Medicines Sans Frontieres (MSF) has been at the forefront of Myanmar’s HIV response, securing vital funding and pioneering antiretroviral treatment. By 2013, we were the largest provider of antiretrovirals in the country, and we have treated nearly 42,000 patients in total. Our groundbreaking model ensured that the most complex cases, particularly those with other conditions including tuberculosis, received the highest quality care. Over the last five years, we have been strengthening the government’s capacity to care for people living with HIV, with the ultimate aim of transferring our patients to its National AIDS Programme (NAP) and closing down our HIV operations. By 2021, we had transferred over 26,000 people living with HIV to the government programme, including all our patients in Yangon.