The opening ceremony of the seventh Myanmar Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Conference took place yesterday morning at Wyndham Hotel in Yangon.

Union Minister Dr Thet Khaing Win inaugurated the conference under the theme “Towards better GI and Liver Health Care.” The event brought together medical professionals from Myanmar, as well as specialists from India, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong (China), the UK, and the US, who shared their expertise and experiences. The conference provided valuable knowledge and training opportunities for general practitioners, medical professionals, and specialists in Myanmar, thereby enhancing patient-centred healthcare services.

Following opening remarks by Professor and Head of Gastroenterology Dr Than Than Aye and Retired Professor Lt-Col Dr Kyaw Soe Tun (Retd), the Union minister, the Yangon Region chief minister, Professor Dr Than Than Aye, Retired Professor Lt-Col Dr Kyaw Soe Tun, and Professor F Blaine Hollinger officially opened the conference. Attendees visited academic and pharmaceutical exhibition booths featuring 27 academic posters and 41 pharmaceutical displays.

The conference, held on 14 and 15 December, focuses on knowledge-sharing and collaboration between Myanmar’s medical specialists and their international counterparts. Activities include exchanging clinical experiences and showcasing advanced treatment techniques in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology.

In the afternoon, the Union minister and delegation visited the international-standard endoscopy department at Yangon General Hospital, where both local and international professors and specialists collaborated on endoscopic treatments. The programme involved 12 gastroenterology specialists from Yangon General Hospital, Thingangyun General Hospital, and Nay Pyi Taw General Hospital (1,000-bed) working alongside seven specialists from Thailand, India, and Indonesia to treat 11 patients.

Using advanced SpyGlass endoscopic technology, the team performed procedures such as pancreas stone removal, treatment for achalasia, early-stage cancer detection, and endoscopic tumour resection. These treatments, previously available only abroad, are now accessible in Myanmar, signifying a significant advancement in local healthcare services.

MNA/KZL

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