"Statement on COVID-19 response: We are deeply concerned that there have been many weaknesses in the way the military regime is handling the fresh wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar and by the resultant health crisis Myanmar people are facing. Far from enjoying their right to health, Myanmar people who are now going through the third wave of the pandemic, are seeing their health entitlements being denied by the regime. The Right to Health is normally measured by five elements as follows: Non-discrimination: health facilities, goods and services must be accessible to all, without discrimination on any of the prohibited grounds. However, currently in Myanmar, military personnel and their families are enjoying privileges over ordinary citizens who need urgent protection. Instead of a systematic COVID-19 vaccination program by determining priority population groups, those from the military circle are being prioritized. And the military is keeping healthcare facilities including COVID-19 care centers and oxygen plants for itself, violating the fundamental right of every human being to equally enjoy healthcare. Availability: there must be sufficient quantity of functioning public health and health care facilities, goods and services for all. Due to weaknesses in preparation, people especially the grassroots are finding it extremely difficult to have access to basic requirements like facial masks and oxygen. What’s worse, the military regime is intentionally restricting the people’s access to necessary healthcare products and using those products for themselves, seriously affecting their availability. Accessibility: Health facilities, goods and services have to be accessible to everyone. The military regime is however controlling the import of healthcare products needed to prevent coronavirus, restricting the accessibility of health services. Acceptability: all health programs must be based on the people and serve the people. Confiscation of oxygen and other relief supplies provided by donors and disruption of their assistance breaches acceptability. Quality: health care services must be of good quality. As a result of inadequate preparation, COVID-19 centers run by the regime are ill-equipped and have failed to provide reliable information. The quality of healthcare services delivered by the regime is obviously concerning. Those acts show the regime’s lack of political will and its intent to take political advantage of the COVID-19 third wave to weaken the nationwide anti-regime movement. The regime is deliberately creating panic among the people by refusing them necessary healthcare services, in what appears to be retaliation against public opposition to it. Such acts only deepen public health crisis and are blatant violations of the right to health. It is the regime’s another crime against humanity affecting entire Myanmar people. We sternly warn the regime to immediately stop disrupting the organizations providing healthcare assistance, and keep aid channels open so that medical aid reaches the regions and people in need..."