OUELH's Myanmar hospital temporarily shuts emergency department

OUE Lippo Healthcare (OUELH) said on Wednesday that its flagship hospital in Yangon has temporarily closed its emergency department amid a recent spike in Covid-19 infections in Myanmar.

In an exchange filing, OUELH said the Hlaing Tharyar Hospital had announced last Thursday that the emergency department would be temporarily closed due to "a shortage of manpower, oxygen and medical supplies". It noted that the hospital's other departments were still functioning.

The group jointly operates and manages three hospitals, three clinics and a medical centre in Myanmar through a joint-venture partner, First Myanmar Investment Public Company Limited.

OUELH said: "Hlaing Tharyar Hospital is expected to resume the operations of its emergency department once it is able to stabilise its oxygen and medical supplies and manpower needs to continue to provide quality care for all its patients."

The company said the temporary closure of the emergency department is currently not expected to have any material impact on the group's financial performance for the current financial year ending in December.

However, it added that, given the "rapidly evolving situation of the Covid-19 pandemic and the supply-chain disruption for oxygen and medical supplies in Myanmar", it is difficult to determine at the moment how long the temporary shutdown would last, or whether it would need to be extended in duration or scope - including to other departments or hospitals.

OUELH said: "It is therefore not currently possible to ascertain the financial impact on the group if an extension of the temporary closure of emergency department in any form is required."

Reuters, citing state media figures, reported that Myanmar registered a record 281 Covid-19 deaths on Monday, and 5,189 new infections. However it noted that medics and funeral services have said that the real toll is much higher than the military government's figures.

Shares of OUELH closed unchanged at 4 Singapore cents on Wednesday before the announcement.