Abstract
The eastern border region of Myanmar is a mainly rural area, with a large population of vulnerable groups due to internal displacement and ongoing ethnic conflict and discrimination. Myanmar has the 2nd lowest overall health system performance out of 191 countries internationally, and reports indicate that ethnic communities are largely excluded from formal healthcare. Health and human rights concerns have been raised over limited access to essential medicines (AEM)1,2. Implications of not having AEM, such as antibiotics and vitamins, include high rates of morbidity, suffering, and morality at individual levels and low average life expectancy and poor overall health at the population level3. This cross-sectional study aims to describe the current level of access to seven different essential children’s medicines in 98 clinics in eastern Myanmar, using stock data from the Health Facility Assessment Tools 2017 Survey. The association between level of clinic remoteness (distance to the clinic from a large city) and AEM is being explored. Data analysis is currently being conducted and results will be available in March 2019. There is limited research pertaining to this geographic region and population despite evidence of a damaged health system and a high volume of potentially vulnerable people. Therefore, the findings of this study could inform further investigations to improve equitable access to essential medicines among all people in eastern Myanmar.
 References
 1. Loxley, R. Opportunities for Health System Strengthening during Government Transition in Myanmar: a Major Research Paper. (Queen's University, 2016).
 2. Tandon, A., Murray, C. J., Lauer, J. A. & Evans, D. B. Measuring health system performance for 191 countries. GPE Discuss. Pap. Ser. No. 30 (2000). doi:10.1007/s10198-002-0138-1
 3. Ahmadiani, S. & Nikfar, S. Challenges of access to medicine and the responsibility of pharmaceutical companies: A legal perspective. DARU, J. Pharm. Sci. (2016). doi:10.1186/s40199-016-0151-z
Published Version
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