As a gesture of hailing the 81st Anniversary of Armed Forces Day 2026, Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered a speech at the inauguration of the National Cancer Centre (NCC) in Dagon Myothit (Seikkan) Township of Yangon Region yesterday morning.
The Senior General visited the medical ward where patients were receiving radiotherapy. The Union Minister for Health and officials conducted the Senior General round the relevant rooms.
The ceremony was held at the meeting hall of the eight-storey medical ward. On the occasion, the Senior General said that it is widely acknowledged that, during the five-year tenure, the government faced numerous major challenges in the health sector but was able to overcome them. Moreover, even when confronted with natural disasters such as Cyclone Mocha in 2023, Typhoon Yagi in 2024, and the Mandalay Earthquake in 2025, healthcare workers selflessly endured personal hardships and worked tirelessly and in coordination to provide medical care.
He noted that with the establishment of such infrastructure, it is necessary to operate in accordance with standard treatment protocols to further improve the quality of cancer care. It is also essential to strengthen collaboration with foreign experts, continuously produce specialists in radiation therapy and senior oncologists who can expertly handle medical equipment, and, in cooperation with international partners, develop the National Cancer Registry and expand related research activities.
The Senior General explained that as part of fulfilling the needs of infrastructure in the health sector, the government upgraded 25 people’s hospitals to narrow the gap in healthcare between urban and rural areas, with the establishment of 12 new 16-bed hospitals in the rural areas. Moreover, 41 hospital buildings and staff housing were built within five years.
He recounted that a total of 2,649 fresher medical doctors and dentists, nueses, and staff were appointed at hospitals within five years in addition to upgrading nursing training schools to the nursing institutes.
Currently, he added that the National Cancer Control Strategy (2023-2027) is being implemented in the country for the patients to reduce the death rate based on cancer disease and receive early treatments.
In cancer treatment, the Senior General emphasized that there are various therapies such as chemotherapy, surgical treatment, and radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is a crucial treatment for eliminating cancer and controlling its spread. At present, Myanmar is using 26 radiotherapy machines and nine brachytherapy devices for treatment.
He clarified that, as the general hospitals in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw have been facilitated with seven new radiotherapy machines after 2021, general hospitals under the Ministry of Health are operating five radiation centres, 15 radiotherapy machines and four brachytherapy devices. As the private sector has been allowed to provide healthcare with radiotherapy machines, they have five radiation centres, seven radiotherapy machines and four brachytherapy devices.
The Senior General highlighted that today’s inauguration of the National Cancer Centre aims to provide cancer patients with a one-stop comprehensive care centre where they can receive complete treatment services in a single location, as well as to carry out research activities. The government has approved over K34 billion for the five- and eight-storey treatment wards and radiotherapy rooms, over K12 billion for staff housing, and over K30 billion for three new radiotherapy machines during the 2024-2025 financial year. One machine donated by well-wishers this year is valued at K19 billion, and appreciation is expressed for this generous contribution.
He spotted that for patients receiving radiotherapy, radiotherapy rooms were constructed in advance with priority, so that even before the completion of the main centre, two radiotherapy machines installed in October 2024 and an additional machine installed in January 2025 were already in use to provide preliminary treatment. This allowed more than 1,601 patients to receive over 50,000 sessions of radiotherapy and cancer treatment, significantly reducing patient waiting times. Furthermore, after the completion of the buildings in July 2025, inpatient treatment also became possible, enabling care for 285 inpatients and 3,805 outpatients.
On the occasion, SSPC Member Prime Minister U Nyo Saw, Union Ministers U Tin Aung San, Dr Thet Khaing Win and U Myo Thant and Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein cut the ribbon to open the National Cancer Centre (NCC).
The Senior General unveiled the signboard of the centre and sprinkled scented water on the plaque of the four-storey National Cancer Centre (NCC).
The Senior General also sprayed the plaque of the eight-storey new medical ward with the scented water.
The Senior General and attendees watched a documentary video clip on the opening of the National Cancer Centre-NCC.
The Senior General and his family donated cash to the fund for the National Cancer Centre to the Union Minister for Health.
The Union Minister for Construction handed over documents related to the NCC to the Union Minister for Health, who also spoke words of appreciation for opening the centre.
Also, present at the ceremony were senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Yangon Command, international cancer experts, physicians, health staff and guests.
MNA/TTA
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