The protest march was the first to be organised by the Nursing University Students’ Union (NUSU) over the directive, and was participated by students from the Nursing University (Yangon) and Yangon Nursing Training School as well as interns and activists from NGOs.

“We want the public to be aware of our situation. If the licence will only be issued after we serve three years in public hospitals, it will mean we are serving the public without licence,” said Ma Amie Mie Ju, Yangon NUSU communication coordinator and a student from Yangon Nursing University, explaining the reason for the protest.

The Department of Medical Service announced on February 1 that unlicensed nurses and midwives who do not complete the required three years’ service in government hospitals, will not be appointed at private hospitals.  

The department said nurses and midwives will be issued licences upon completion of three years’ service in public hospitals and securing approval to resign from government service.

The NUSU issued a statement on February 27 denouncing the department’s announcement. Subsequently, on March 6, relevant nursing organisations sent another statement to the respective ministry, council and associations.

Four days later, on March 10, the NUSU told a press conference in Yangon that they have submitted a counter proposal to the ministry and want a response by March 15.

“We do not want to serve for three years in public hospitals before we get a licence. We want to serve the public in government hospitals with dignity and with our licence in hand,” said Ma Aye Mi San, a representative of fourth year students.

The fact that nursing licences are issued only after serving at public hospitals for three years, goes against Section 6 (registration), and Section 7 (relating to licence and restricted licence) of the Myanmar Nurse and Midwife Council Law, said the NUSU.

Yesterday’s march started at Nursing University at about 2pm, passing Bogyoke, Phone Gyi, Anawrahta and Lanmadaw streets around the Yangon General Hospital (YGH).

The protesters then went to the Yangon Nursing Training School, inside the YGH compound, to get more students to participate in the march, but the institution’s authorities had locked the gates.

After about 30 minutes, the protesters left through Shwedagon Pagoda Road and headed for Mahabandoola Park where the march ended.

“The reason we went to the Yangon Nursing Training School is that we wanted them to participate with us since the issue is relevant to them. But the head of the school did not permit it.

“Locking the students in is not right. It’s being dictatorial,” said Ko Aung Chan Pyae from Nursing University (Mandalay).
The NUSU said they would call for a meeting to get responses from nurses regarding the situation and the government’s directive.  

According to the law, a person who is granted a degree or diploma or certification in midwifery or nursing from local or international institutions must apply to register with the Myanmar Nurse and Midwife Council (MNMC).

Section 35 of the MNMC Law states that no private organisation is allowed to do business without a licence and no one is allowed to work as a nurse or midwife without official permission from the health ministry or council.