MEDICAL COLLEGE DURING THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION (1942-1945)

The Second World War broke out in Europe in 1939 and spread to Burma in 1942. The Rangoon University suspended its classes in early 1942 as the British Government of Burma withdrew to India. All the Indian military service officers and Indian doctors left the country and a few medical graduates and L.M.P. doctors remained and carried on with the work of the Health Department. The lack of doctors and medical facilities was acutely felt during this period.

(Ref. Medical College Annual Magazine 1952, p. 7).

During the war the medical school (L.M.P.) building was destroyed, but fortunately the Medical College building and the teaching hospitals, such as the Rangoon General Hospital (585 beds), the Dufferin Hospital (250 beds), the Mental Hospital (250 beds) and Contagious Diseases Hospital (200 beds), escaped the destruction and were available for teaching of medical students. Medical education was carried on with small teaching staff under extreme difficulties during the war.

(Ref. Prof. Min Sein, Medical College Annual Magazine 1951, P.5).

The M.B.,B.S course was stopped with closure of Rangoon University in 1942, but a modified course was conducted in the Medical College building. The successful candidates were conferred with Licentiate of State Medical Board (L.S.M.B.)

(Ref. Medical College Magazine 50th Anniversary special issues,1975, 76, 77- p. 148)