At a military commission meeting held in Naypyidaw on August 12, Min Aung Hlaing issued orders to crack down on illegal trade. He claimed that armed groups in border areas are collecting taxes from illegal trade to build their strength, necessitating strict enforcement against illegal trade and contraband goods. He stated that suppressing illegal trade would help establish rule of law. The military council has banned the import of 35 essential consumer goods from abroad, and specifically restricted the import of medicines and medical supplies to sea routes only.
Those wishing to import medicines and medical supplies must not only apply for import licenses but also source their own US dollars for purchases. The military council’s Central Bank is not selling dollars, creating significant challenges for businesses. The restrictions have led to medicine shortages within the country, while the prices of available medicines have sharply increased according to a source from the Myanmar Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Manufacturer’s Association. Finding dollars to import medicines has become a major challenge for businesses.
Currently, the military council has detained numerous cargo trucks entering from the Thai-Myanmar border at Myawaddy in Hpa-an Township. The military council’s restrictions have resulted in medicine shortages domestically, with prices of available medicines skyrocketing, according to a source from the Myanmar Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Manufacturer’s Association. Sourcing dollars for medicine imports remains a primary challenge for businesses, as they must find their own means to obtain foreign currency without support from the Central Bank.
