Myanmar - Physicians (per 1,000 people)

Physicians (per 1,000 people) in Myanmar was 0.737 as of 2019. Its highest value over the past 59 years was 0.864 in 2017, while its lowest value was 0.065 in 1960.

Definition: Physicians include generalist and specialist medical practitioners.

Source: World Health Organization's Global Health Workforce Statistics, OECD, supplemented by country data.

See also:

Year Value
1960 0.065
1965 0.085
1970 0.114
1981 0.203
1985 0.270
1989 0.081
1990 0.078
1995 0.293
1999 0.297
2000 0.302
2004 0.366
2005 0.380
2006 0.416
2007 0.439
2008 0.475
2009 0.488
2010 0.522
2011 0.551
2012 0.580
2016 0.620
2017 0.864
2018 0.677
2019 0.737

Development Relevance: The WHO estimates that at least 2.5 medical staff (physicians, nurses and midwives) per 1,000 people are needed to provide adequate coverage with primary care interventions (WHO, World Health Report 2006).

Limitations and Exceptions: The WHO compiles data from household and labor force surveys, censuses, and administrative records. Data comparability is limited by differences in definitions and training of medical personnel varies. In addition, human resources tend to be concentrated in urban areas, so that average densities do not provide a full picture of health personnel available to the entire population.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Health systems - the combined arrangements of institutions and actions whose primary purpose is to promote, restore, or maintain health (World Health Organization, World Health Report 2000) - are increasingly being recognized as key to combating disease and improving the health status of populations. The World Bank's Healthy Development: Strategy for Health, Nutrition, and Population Results emphasizes the need to strengthen health systems, which are weak in many countries, in order to increase the effectiveness of programs aimed at reducing specific diseases and further reduce morbidity and mortality. To evaluate health systems, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that key components - such as financing, service delivery, workforce, governance, and information - be monitored using several key indicators. The data are a subset of the key indicators. Monitoring health systems allows the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of different health system models to be compared. Health system data also help identify weaknesses and strengths and areas that need investment, such as additional health facilities, better health information systems, or better trained human resources. Data on health worker (physicians, nurses and midwives, and community health workers) density show the availability of medical personnel.

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Health Indicators

Sub-Topic: Health systems