A training on 'Planning, Budgeting, Controls, Cash Flow, Good Procurement Practices and Government Financial Rules', is organized by UNOPS in collaboration with the National Disease Control Programmes (AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria) and under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Sports (MOHS).

The aim is to promote the financial management capacities of officers in the National Health System, and thereby to strengthen the health system. The trainings are held in a series of six batches of two and half days (two parallel sessions per batch) n Nay Pyi Taw, from 23 October to 29 November, with close to 900 government health staff taking part, from the 330 townships across the country.

Union Minister for Health H.E. Dr Myint Htwe opened the third batch of training. The Regional and State Health Directors, Deputy Directors, District Medical Officers, Assistant Directors, Medical Superintendents, Township Health Officers, Regional Officers, Team Leaders and financial personnel, together with the responsible officers from MOHS, National Programmes and PR-UNOPS attended the opening session.

Similar trainings have been held in recent years (2013, 2015 and 2016). This year financial clerks dealing with fund management are also involved together with Township Health Officers, Station Medical Officers, Township Health Nurses and Health Assistants.

Union Minister for Health H.E. Dr Myint Htwe delivers the opening address, which is followed by an opening speech by Dr Thar Tun Kyaw, Director General, Department of Public Health, MOHS, and a brief presentation on ‘Planning and Budgeting as Health System Strengthening’ by Dr Attila Molnar, Programme Director, PR-UNOPS.

Participating government health staff actively take part in group work and interactive discussions to have hands-on practice to build their financial management skills and, training attendance is more than 90 per cent.