Mandalay's Mingalar Hospital, a vital healthcare facility, has been forced to close for three months by the Military Council, raising concerns about access to medical services in the area.

The hospital is located at the intersection of 58th Street and 42nd Street in Mahar Aung Myay Township, Mandalay City. The junta notified the hospital on 17 August that it would have to close for three months from 25 August.

Currently, over 700 medical staff and doctors work at Mingalar Hospital.

An orthopaedic doctor working at the hospital said: “We have not received any reports of issues with the hospital, it’s so confusing.”

Another surgeon at the hospital who spoke to Mizzima said that he was very confused by the order as Mingalar Hospital is known to be supportive of the military council and does not employ health workers taking part in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).

Another doctor at the hospital explained that managing a three-month temporary closure would be very problematic for the hospital. He said: “We are unsure where we will transfer the hospital’s patients as all the other hospitals are already full. Based on recent experiences, some hospitals have had to permanently close after temporary closures.”

There is currently nowhere to transfer many of the patients at Mingalar Hospital. A local said: “I have heard that some doctors in Mingalar Hospital are considering advising their patients to seek care at private clinics in Mandalay.”

The Military Council already permanently closed three Mandalay City hospitals in 2022, because they were allegedly employing CDM staff. They were: Nandaw, City and Kant Kaw hospital.