Event Summary
On 6 August 2025, Myanmar’s junta-controlled Ministry of Health (MoH) reportedly issued a directive ordering all local and international NGOs/INGOs to immediately halt the distribution of essential medications, including Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) drugs, and malaria treatments. The directive also suspends related programs such as HIV prevention education. Previously, these life-saving treatments were distributed nationwide by NGOs with support from international donors like USAID and the Global Fund. Under the new directive, all supplies must be handed over to the National AIDS Program (NAP) and distributed solely through the MoH. Reports indicates that NGO clinics in major cities—Yangon, Mandalay, Ayeyarwady—have closed, staff have been laid off, and organizations like Marie Stopes International and IOM have forced to surrender their supplies to government.
The directive undermines trust, restricts operational space, and signals increasing authoritarian control over civil society functions. By mandating the immediate cessation of NGO-led distribution of critical medications and redirecting donor-funded supplies exclusively through the Ministry of Health, the government is effectively displacing civil society from essential service delivery roles. This not only undermines the operational space of NGOs/INGOs but also threatens their financial sustainability, as donor funding—previously channeled through these organizations—is now being rerouted to state institutions. The lack of consultation and abrupt enforcement further erodes trust and collaboration between civil society and the state. These developments significantly weaken the enabling environment for civil society, particularly in the health sector, and risk reversing years of progress in public health and rights-based service provision.