Insecurity Insight has documented at least 231 attacks on Myanmar's health care system between 1 January 2023 and 8 August 2023.

In these incidents, 24 health workers have been killed undermining health care providers ’ability to effectively meet patient needs and maintain safe staffing levels.

On 73 occasions, health facilities have been set on fire, occupied and damaged by air attacks, drone strikes, and shelling, impacting the population’s access to health care.

Insecurity Insight, an organisation that monitors incidents around the world affecting aid, health care, education, and protection documented the following attacks on the healthcare system in August. The list was prepared from information available in local, national and international news outlets and online databases.

Insecurity Insight said that the incidents reported are not a complete nor a representative list of all events that affected the provision of health care and they have not been independently verified.

11 August 2023: On the highway connecting Shwegyin Town, near Puzun Myaung Village, Swea Da Lwe Village Tract, Nyaunglebin Township, Bago Region, two ambulances were attacked with small firearms, injuring a male aid worker and damaging the roof and windows of one of the ambulances. The junta authorities accused an ethnic armed group and local resistance forces of the attack.

12 August 2023: In Kanbalu Town, township, and district, Sagaing Region, a female midwife and four family members were stabbed and killed at their home by an unidentified armed group. The midwife was not affiliated with the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). After being warned by the local resistance forces to be affiliated with CDM, she moved to the town. The junta authorities accused the local resistance forces of the attack.

12 August 2023: On the highway connecting Falam Town and Hakha Town in Chin State, an ambulance leaving Falam Town for Ramthlo Village, Falam Township was blocked by the Myanmar military while on its way to rescue seven civilians wounded in an air and ground attack of the village by the Myanmar military.

12 August 2023: At the military checkpoint in Dawei Town, township, and district, the restrictions of transport of medicine and rice from Dawei Town to the villages in the east of the township was reinforced with a warning that the people would be arrested and vehicles would be seized if they were found with medicine and rice cargoes. The restrictions have been in place since late 2021.

13 August 2023: In Tha Khut Ta Nei Village and village tract, Budalin Township, Monywa District, Sagaing Region, a rural health centre, a monastery, market stalls, and civilian houses were torched in a two-day raid on the village by the Myanmar military.

13 August 2023: In Pauk Kan Village and village tract, Wetlet Township, Shwebo District, Sagaing Region, a rural health centre, a school, and civilian houses were attacked by the Myanmar military air force, injuring four civilians. The impact on the health facility and health workers was reported to be not known at the time of report. At the time of the attack the health facility was functioning with CDM-affiliated health workers.

14 August 2023: In Chanayethazan Town and township, Mandalay City, district, and region, a CDM-affiliated obstetrician was arrested from her home by the junta authorities and security forces.

As reported on 15 August 2023: In Thin Gan Nyi Naung Village and village tract, Myawaddy Township and district, Kayin State, civilians were denied access to health care at a station hospital due to Border Guard Force and Myanmar military members receiving health care at the hospital and for the security reason of the junta forces.

15 August 2023: On the highway connecting Monywa Town and Mandalay Town, near Myay Ne Village and village tract, Monywa Township and district, Sagaing Region, a doctor, who was a political prisoner, was killed in a landmine attack on a convoy of five military trucks transferring prisoners from Monywa Prison to prisons in Myingyan Town and Mandalay Town. He was arrested on 24 September 2021 and sentenced to 11-years imprisonment for allegedly providing health care to civilians in areas affected by armed clashes, and for supporting local resistance forces.

As reported on 16 August 2023: In Mese Town, township, and district, Kayah State, a township hospital was damaged during armed clashes between the Myanmar military and a joint force of ethnic armed groups and local resistance forces that took place between 13 and 15 June 2023. The ceiling and window glass was damaged and there were bullet holes in the walls of the hospital buildings. Artillery fire was used by both sides and airstrikes were conducted by the Myanmar military.

18 August 2023: In Nam Poke Village and village tract, Mohnyin Township and district, Kachin State, a female nurse and six civilians were injured during artillery shelling by the ethnic armed organisation Shan-Ni Army.

18 August 2023: In Mahaaungmyay Town and township, Mandalay City, district, and region, the Mingalar Private Hospital was ordered to temporarily close for three months starting from 25 August 2023. The junta’s order does not mention any reason; however, the hospital employed two CDM-affiliated doctors who were arrested in February and August 2022.

19 August 2023: At the military checkpoint near Za Wea Village and village tract, Tanintharyi Township, Myeik District, Tanintharyi Region, the Myanmar military blocked the transport of medicine, rice, and fuel from Myeik Town to Tanintharyi Town.

20 August 2023: In Htee Paw So Village and village tract, Hpruso Township, Demoso district, Kayah State, a rural health centre was damaged by Myanmar military artillery shelling.

21 August 2023: In Mindat Town, township, and district, Chin State, a district hospital and three public schools were ordered to temporarily close down. The junta’s order does not mention any reasons; however, there were heightened clashes in the downtown area of Mindat Town, and an ambulance owned by the hospital was seized from the hospital by the ethnic armed organisation, the Chin Defence Force, on 20 August. At the time of the attack, the hospital was functioning, but only with a low profile. Before this attack, six health facilities with in-patient service, 40 health facilities with out-patient service, and 180 schools in this township were under the control of the ethnic armed organisation.

22 August 2023: In Myawaddy Town, township, and district in Kayin State, a fully-functioning district hospital was damaged by a drone armed with two bombs. The roofs of the mortuary and public latrines were damaged. The junta authorities accused the ethnic armed group, the Karen National Union and local resistance forces, for the attack.