OUELH Yangon hospital temporarily closes emergency dep’t as COVID-19 cases surge

This is due to the lack of adequate manpower, oxygen and medical supplies.

OUE Lippo Healthcare (OUELH) Limited on Wednesday said its flagship hospital in Yangon in Myanmar temporarily closed its emergency department starting 15 July amidst the recent surge in COVID-19 infections there.

OUELH said the closure of Hlaing Tharyar Hospital is due to a “shortage of manpower, oxygen and medical supplies” in the middle of the fresh surge.

“The rest of Hlaing Tharyar Hospital’s departments remain operational during the Temporary Closure of Emergency Department,” it said in a disclosure. “Hlaing Tharyar Hospital is expected to resume the operations of its emergency department once it is able to stabilise its oxygen and medical supplies and manpower needs to continue to provide quality care for all its patients.”

The temporary closure is not expected to have any material impact on the financial performance this year of the OUELH and its subsidiaries, or the group.

However, it noted that with the increasing cases and the supply chain disruption for oxygen and medical supplies in Myanmar, it is difficult to determine the duration of the temporary closure of the department or if it would be extended, whether in duration, in scope to other services, or other Pun Hlaing Hospitals.

“It is therefore not currently possible to ascertain the financial impact on the Group if extension of the Temporary Closure of Emergency Department in any form is required,” it said.

The group together with its joint venture partner First Myanmar Investment Public Company Limited jointly operate and manage three hospitals, three clinics and one medical centre in Myanmar, collectively known as the Pun Hlaing Hospitals.