Are there more poor people or more poor people coming to the Mandalay General Hospital or both? The article doesn't say.

Jamie

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for indigent patients in Mandalay triples
Maung Zaw
Myanmar Times
28 MAR 2018

Donations to patients unable to afford medical care at Mandalay General Hospital have increased three-fold in three years, said U Min Lwin, deputy director of the Medicine and Public Relation Unit.

“We can deliver much more, as donors and organisations make donations to our hospital. When we have fewer donors, we can do less for patients,” he said Monday.

Donations from external sources range between K12 million (US$9000) and K15 million a month, and the hospital provides K50,000 per patient from the Ministry of Health for those who cannot afford medical fees.

“We provide up to K50,000 per patient unable to afford medical services. But, if they really need more, we give it to them,” said U Min Lwin.

“Only people in need have been assisted. Patients in need must submit a letter to be eligible,” he added.

According to its records, Mandalay General Hospital provided help to 875 patients in 2015, 1765 in 2016, 2165 in 2017 and 180 patients each in January and February this year.

Since the hospital is the biggest medical facility in Upper Myanmar, patients from rural areas have to spend a lot of money on travel even though they cannot afford the medical fees, said an anonymous donor who donates to the hospital monthly.

“I feel sorry for them when I hear about their stories, so I donate. If there are fewer donors, I want the Ministry of Health to keep making donations by increasing its funding. Human life is precious,” he said.

https://www.mmtimes.com/news/help-indigent-patients-mandalay-triples.html