Table 1 Outlet types

Community health workers (CHWs)

Village-based volunteers who provide free or highly subsidized health services in remote rural areas. They are typically linked with government or non-government not-for-profit organizations, and usually receive training, support and supplies

Private sector

 Private-for-profit health facilities

General practitioners who operate within privately owned facilities that are licensed by Myanmar’s Ministry of Health. In some cases, the providers work for Ministry of Health as well and are running these clinics during their free time

 Pharmacies

Pharmacies and drug stores, usually licensed by the Ministry of Health. They are usually small, privately owned, and stock various medicines including prescription-based ones

 General retailers

Small grocery stores and village shops that sell fast-moving consumer goods, food and provisions. They often stock over-the-counter medicines including anti-malarial drugs but typically are not recognized as drug stores, nor hold licenses

 Itinerant drug vendors

Informal healthcare providers who are mobile and typically operate in rural areas and cover more than one village. Some are retired healthcare providers from various government ministries but are no longer registered. They are typically not linked with regulatory authorities