British doctor honoured for decades of eye care work on Thai-Myanmar border

Mizzima

Dr Philip Ambler, a British doctor who has spent more than three decades providing eye care to refugees, displaced people and migrant workers along the Thai-Myanmar border, has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in King Charles III’s Overseas and International Honours List.

The award was announced as part of the King’s Birthday Honours, published to coincide with His Majesty’s official birthday on 13 June.

Ambler was recognised for his services to eye health in Myanmar, where he has worked since 1990 providing treatment and surgery to vulnerable communities affected by conflict and displacement.

A retired general practitioner, Ambler is the co-founder of Karenaid UK and the Border Eye Program in Thailand. According to the British Embassy, he has spent decades working with Myanmar refugees, internally displaced people, and migrant workers who have often had little or no access to healthcare on either side of the border.

In 1995, Ambler co-founded the Border Eye Project, which works with charities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide ongoing eye care services in border communities.

The programme has delivered treatment and sight-saving surgery to thousands of people living in remote and conflict-affected areas over the past three decades.

The honours list celebrates the achievements of 71 individuals in the UK and overseas, including those who have made significant contributions in healthcare, education, community development, and international cooperation.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Overseas and International Honours List recognises individuals who represent “the very best of the United Kingdom on the global stage.”

She said this year’s recipients have expanded access to education and healthcare, strengthened communities, and built international partnerships, making a lasting difference in people’s lives worldwide.

Ambler is one of a small number of recipients recognised for work undertaken overseas and the only honouree cited specifically for services to eye health in Myanmar.

His award underscores the impact of cross-border healthcare, bringing vital medical aid to communities affected by conflict along the Thai-Myanmar frontier.