Dr Zaw Myint Maung, the detained vice chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and former chief minister of Mandalay region, was admitted to hospital on Friday night reportedly for worsening blood cancer, DVB reports.

The politician is currently being held in U Bo Prison in Mandalay.

According to sources close to the prison, Dr Zaw Myint Maung’s health markedly deteriorated over the previous 24 hours.

Dr Zaw Myint Maung was arrested in February, shortly after the military coup, and was charged under section 505 (B) and disaster management laws.

He is one of many detainees held in prisons in Myanmar who are facing serious medical problems.

A recent protest my inmates of Insein Prison in Yangon sought to highlight the health issues of prisoners and the worries about possible transmission of COVID-19 in the confined and crowded quarters.