On 1 February 2021, the Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s armed forces, staged a military coup d’état against the democratically elected government and seized control of the country. The coup plunged Myanmar into armed conflict, which has now been waged for five years.

The immediate aftermath of the illegal coup saw protests and violent crackdowns against protesters who were engaging in their right to civil disobedience against the military leadership. 

Authorities in Myanmar assaulted, arbitrarily arrested, and murdered their people. Concerningly, these actions have continued to this day. The UN reported that as of early 2025, at least 6231 civilians have been killed by the military.

Medical students and doctors were and continue to be amongst those who protest against the military junta, and amongst those who are targeted and attacked simply for carrying out their healthcare duties. Insecurity Insight and the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition have reported that, since 2021, at least 165 healthcare workers have been killed, 160 injured, 40 kidnapped and 906 arrested. 2024 saw an increase in reports of healthcare workers being killed.

There have been over 1700 attacks on healthcare reported since the coup. Healthcare facilities have been attacked or repurposed for military means by armed groups. Medical supplies have been confiscated or blocked, and supply chains deliberately destroyed.

Hospitals and clinics have been left completely destroyed or non-functional due to strikes, power outages, and shortages of supplies. With the killing of civilians, a healthcare system in tatters, and the purposeful restriction of humanitarian aid by the military junta, Myanmar is now one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.

Amongst these harrowing descriptions and statistics, it can be hard to see a country and people beyond its wounds. Yet, the stories that have been shared from Myanmar illustrate the strength of the people, and the resilience and bravery of our Burmese healthcare colleagues. 

What we can do to meaningfully take action when healthcare is attacked

I had the honour of being invited to Parliament to give some remarks about attacks on healthcare in Myanmar and the importance of upholding international law at a roundtable hosted by Global Health Partnerships and Monica Harding MP on 2 February.

The purpose of the event was to bring together stakeholders to raise awareness of the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, and of the targeting and persecution of healthcare workers. That awareness needs to include Parliamentarians. Mainly, however, it served to highlight the amazing and innovative work being done by healthcare workers in Myanmar and the Health Partnerships for Myanmar Community, in collaboration with colleagues from Global health Partnerships UK and Cambridge Global Health Partnerships, in the face of the ongoing attacks on healthcare.

Through sustained collaboration, they have built a parallel healthcare system from scratch, relying on telemedicine and versatile clinics, including those online. A robust network of over 5000 healthcare workers now exists to reach patients across the country: in townships, in hospitals under trees, in caves, and underground.

We heard about a telehealth system built by Cambridge Global Health Partnerships and Telekyanmar Partnership which provides alternative means of providing healthcare, with almost 400 volunteer healthcare workers involved in providing telehealth services to over 80,000 patients.

These alternative systems serve as a lifeline in a country where healthcare is constantly targeted and attacked. Vulnerable patients can be reached, and healthcare workers can continue to provide services in safety, all done amidst threats of arrest and attacks.

For us here in the UK and elsewhere, the message from our colleagues in Myanmar was unequivocal:

– Visibility matters deeply, and we must continue to draw attention to Myanmar and the attacks against civilians and healthcare workers there

– Humanitarian and health support must be increased by governments

– We must collaborate and work together to strengthen health systems, support service delivery and ensure coordination amongst all stakeholders, whilst centring on the voices of the doctors in Myanmar

– We must continue to advocate for the protection of healthcare under international law, and keep affirming that hospitals must never be the target of attack

– Commitment, staying with them, is essential. The crisis is loud but their resolve is louder. 
 
Healthcare organisations like the BMA have a moral duty to speak up for our colleagues worldwide. The BMA intervenes in cases where doctors or patients have their rights abused, or where doctors themselves are engaged in human rights abuses, and where medical neutrality has been violated.

We have spoken up regarding the crisis in Myanmar since 2021 – most recently through a joint statement with the Royal College of Nursing published on 2 February to mark the fifth anniversary of the coup and to express our grave concerns about the violations of medical neutrality, human rights, and international humanitarian law.

As our Burmese colleagues have reminded us, we must continue to keep Myanmar on our minds. A simple show of solidarity can go a long way.  

John Chisholm is president of the BMA