Myanmar pharma sector expected to grow 10-15%

MYANMAR'S pharmaceutical industry is expected to rev up 10-15 per cent a year thanks to the government's increasing spending on healthcare.

The Myanmar Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment Entrepreneurs Association made the forecast at the recent "Myanmar Medi-Pharm Expo", signalling confidence in the future of the nascent market now estimated to be worth about US$100 million to $120 million (Bt3.2 billion to Bt3.85 billion).

During the past three years, the Myanmar government has tripled healthcare expenditures. Spending by consumers will also rise in line with the country's growing economy.

More insurers to get green light for US dollar services

More insurance firms will be allowed to offer services in US dollars if they can meet the same requirements that were met by the four companies that have already received approval to offer such services, according to Dr Maung Maung Thein, chairperson of the Insurance Business Supervisory Board.

The government has given the green light to IKBZ, Grand Guardian Insurance, First National Insurance and Aung Thitsar Oo Insurance to offer services in US currency, but the companies have yet to receive approval for raising capital for these services.

Insurance firms that plan to offer US dollar services must have capital of at least $500,000. Maung Maung Thein said approval is also based on an assessment of the firm’s performance.

Thai firm makes hospital appointment in Burma

Thonburi Hospital Group (THG), owned and chaired by property tycoon Boon Vanasin, plans to expand its presence aggressively in Burma by investing 5 billion baht (US$165 million) over five years to build three hospitals and clinics nationwide.

The group yesterday signed an agreement with Burma’s Aung Shwe Three International (AST) Group for joint development of a 150-bed hospital in Rangoon at a cost of 1 billion baht. THG owns 51 percent of the project, with the rest belonging to the Burmese partner.

The alliance plans to develop two more hospitals, one in Mandalay and the other in Hlaing Thar Yar Industrial Zone near Rangoon. More clinics will be built across Burma to cash in on the booming economy and investments bound for Burma, Mr Boon said.

France Holds First Health Forum in Burma in 20 Years

RANGOON — A forum to promote medical equipment manufactured by French firms was held in Rangoon on Wednesday for the first time in 20 years.

The France-Myanmar Healthcare Forum, organized by the French Agency for International Business Development (UBIFRANCE), brought together around 150 businesspeople and healthcare professionals from both countries for a series of presentations and discussions.

Claire Camdessus, UBIFRANCE’s director for Burma, Thailand and Laos, said the one-day forum aimed to introduce French health-care technology to the Burmese market.

“We know there’s a lot of reform going on and a lot of opportunities in Myanmar, and we want our French companies to be a part of this development,” she said.

Colgate-Palmolive to open factory in Myanmar

The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) has given U.S. company Colgate-Palmolive a licence to produce commodities in Myanmar.

The company applied to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) to create Colgate-Palmolive (Myanmar) Ltd., and was granted permission on May 29. The MIC fully licensed the company on June 13.

Thonburi Group clinches JV in Myanmar

MOU signed with Aung Kyi Shwe International for Bt1 bn, 150-bed hospital in Yangon

Thonburi Hospital Group yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with Aung Kyi Soe, managing director of Aung Shwe Thee International (AST Group), a leading property group in Myanmar, for a joint venture to invest in a 150-bed private hospital in that country at the cost of Bt1 billion.

A majority 51-per-cent stake in the JV will be owned by Thonburi Hospital Group, and the rest by the Myanmar partner.

Boon Vanasin, chairman of Thonburi Hospital Group, said the agreement was part of a three-year plan to invest more than Bt5 billion jointly to build private hospitals in three major cities in Myanmar, namely Yangon, Mandalay and Tantabin. The first will be opened in Yangon by the end of next year or at the beginning of 2016.

Thonburi Hospital inks Myanmar deal

Thonburi Hospital Group (THG), owned and chaired by property tycoon Boon Vanasin, plans to expand its presence aggressively in Myanmar by investing 5 billion baht over five years to build three hospitals and clinics nationwide.

The group yesterday signed an agreement with Myanmar’s Aung Shwe Three International (AST) Group for joint development of a 150-bed hospital in Yangon at a cost of 1 billion baht. THG owns 51% of the project, with the rest belonging to the Myanmar partner.

The alliance plans to develop two more hospitals, one in Mandalay and the other in Hlaing Thar Yar Industrial Zone near Yangon. More clinics will be built across Myanmar to cash in on the booming economy and investments bound for Myanmar, Mr Boon said.

“With average GDP growth of 6-7%, exceeding that of Thailand, I think opportunity in Myanmar is greater than in other Asean members,” he said.

Myanmar: Paradox of alcohol restriction and lack of awareness

In the absence of effective state action against the sale and consumption of dangerous bootleg alcohol in Myanmar, civil society and NGOs should play an active role, says John Smith Thang.

According to an Irrawaddy magazine report, on average Burmese presently drink less than four litres of alcohol per year—that’s only about 10 small bottles—of local brand beer, which for many people on low pay, is still a luxury drink.

In neighbouring Thailand, annual per capita beer consumption is 25 litres and in Vietnam it is 30 liters (The Irrawaddy, Thursday, 7 March 2013).

Living well in Myanmar: eat local, eat right

In this column I’ve frequently written on the importance of diet and exercise in a long and healthy life. To prevent disease and disability, a primary care doctor has no therapy as potent as a healthy lifestyle. What you eat and how much you move your body impacts all aspects of your health, from cardiovascular function to cancer to psychological sharpness.

The five fundamental aspects of a healthy lifestyle are: 1) eating vegetables, beans, nuts, fish and olive oil, 2) not smoking, 3) exercising 90 minutes per week, 4) not becoming overweight and 5) drinking a glass of alcohol every day.

In Yangon we might add carrying a flashlight at night so you don’t fall through a hole in the sidewalk.

Zhulian Corp To Enter Myanmar Market By Q3 Of 2014

GEORGE TOWN, May 7 (Bernama) -- Zhulian Corporation Bhd, a multi-level marketing firm, will enter the Myanmar market by the third quarter of 2014 as part of the group's overseas market expansion.

Group managing director Teoh Meng Keat said Myanmar is touted as the new frontier market amongst emerging countries in terms of the consumer segment and has appointed a local master agent to oversee the business there.

He said due to local laws limiting company ownership, the group will export its products directly to the master agent, who will then sell it to locals.

Burma’s emerging rich

As Burma’s economy steadily grows, a higher percentage of Rangoon’s population are finding themselves with more cash to spend.

Imported products from Thailand and Hong Kong can be seen on display in downtown shopping malls – something that would have been impossible two years ago as foreign goods were banned under the military junta.

Big international brands are now moving in to take advantage of the world’s last frontier markets: soft-drink giant Coca-Cola opened a factory in Burma in June 2013; VISA and MasterCard now operate inside the country; and Japanese companies Mitsubishi Corp and Sumitomo are expanding their presence in Rangoon.

Capital Life Insurance launched with US$ 6 million in capital

Capital Life Insurance was launched on Sunday (March 23) and will exclusively sell life insurance policies starting with capital of about Ks 6 billion (US$ 6 million).

“Current life insurance policies can be transformed into the kind that have the public’s interest in mind,” said Deputy Finance Minister Maung Maung Thein.

Social security scheme in the pipeline

Social security rules and regulations to be promulgated on April 1 will make it compulsory for most companies to cover its employees regardless of income, said U Sein Hlaing Myint, head of Kyauktada township branch of the Social Security Board.

The new law, which was passed in 2012 but will be enacted April 1, is designed to attract more contributions from companies to provide government benefits, though concerns remain that struggling businesses may try to evade making payments.

The fees will be based on employee salaries that will be submitted to the Social Security Board while vendors, students and farmers can alternatively register with the board separately to become eligible for benefits, he added.

Thai-Myanmar medical collaboration inked

World Medical Centre, a branch of Bangkok Chain Hospital (BCH), has signed a memorandum of understanding with Family Mandalar in Myanmar to undertake the former's first operation outside Thailand.

WMC aims to become a medical centre in Asean over the next three to five years.

Dr Chalerm Harnpanich, chief executive officer of BCH, said that under the initial partnership, it would send a team of specialists to provide medical examinations and treatments at Mandalar hospitals in Mandalay.

Alcohol consumption increasing in Myanmar

YANGON—The rate of alcohol consumption is rising in Myanmar, with local production of beer, wine and spirits at more than 25 million gallons annually, according to the local reports.

Tens of thousands of gallons of wine, beer, and hard alcohol—both legal and illegal—are being imported from foreign countries and are now penetrating the local market.

There are state-owned beer and wine factories in Myanmar, but the Myanmar Investment Commission has also allowed permits for foreign beer companies to operate here, subject to scrutiny by respective state and regional government authorities.

Myanmar warns against higher ultraviolet index in coming summer

YANGON, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar meteorologists are warning against the threat of higher ultraviolet (UV) index in coming summer, saying that daily temperatures are estimated to reach its peak in April, the hottest month in the country.

The index for last year's summer in Yangon saw a rise to nearly 13. UV indexes between 10 and 11 can be harmful to human skin, the New Light of Myanmar reported Sunday.

"People living in the country's commercial cities have become trapped in the scorching heat and have been warned of skin cancer and permanent blindness," it said.

Health, Loan Insurance Coming to Burma This Year

RANGOON — Burma’s insurance industry will begin providing currently nonexistent health and credit guarantee insurance policies in the 2014-15 fiscal year, according to state-run Myanma Insurance.

“We will operate health insurance and loan insurance services in the coming financial year,” said Aye Min Thein, managing director of Myanma Insurance. The fiscal year begins on April 1.

Yangon General Hospital Becomes First Myanmar Treatment Center to Install Modern Cancer Treatment Technologies from Varian Medical Systems

Yangon General Hospital has become the first clinical site in Myanmar to install new technology from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) for treating cancer with radiotherapy. Earlier this month, the hospital unveiled its new medical linear accelerator plus technology for high-dose-rate brachytherapy at a Grand Opening that was attended by Prof. Dr. Pe Thet Khin, Myanmar's Minister of Health.

"We chose Varian technology because it will enable us to upgrade the quality of treatment that we can offer cancer patients in Myanmar," said Professor Soe Oo-Mg, head of the Radiation Oncology Department at Yangon General.

TTW plans to expand capacity, eyes Myanmar

Thai Tap Water Supply (TTW), a producer and distributor of tap water in Nakhon Pathom and Samut Sakhon for the Provincial Waterworks Authority, plans to invest between Bt2.2 billion and Bt2.5 billion to expand its production capacity by 100,000 cubic metres per day, hoping to generate Bt5.9 billion in revenue this year.

TTW also expects to conclude plans to invest in Myanmar this year.

Insurance companies warned to follow rules or lose licence

The Insurance Scrutiny Board has threatened to revoke the licences of private insurance companies if they are found guilty of breaking rules and regulations.

An amount of US$ 46 million needs to be deposited with the Myanmar Economic Bank to establish a private insurance company. 60 percent of the sum is used for company operations and 40 percent is kept for compensation.