Objective  To examine the status and characteristics of health services supplied by Chinese and foreign social organizations in northern Myanmar and to analyze advantages and challenges for Chinese social organizations′ involvement in the cross-border health activities.

  Methods  We selected 7 frontier ports as study sites in northern Myanmar along China border; then we conducted a cross-sectional survey including relevant data collection and structured interviews among the staff of main Chinese and other foreign social organizations registered at the study sites between August and December 2016. The collected information of the organizations included registration place, project content, financial source, and agreement with local officials.

  Results  Totally 9 foreign and 2 Chinese social organizations were surveyed in the study. All the foreign social organizations located in the 7 study areas and were with registration place in Burma, long-term financial support, administration facilities, and management personnel; while the 2 Chinese social organizations showed obvious differences in the 5 aspects mentioned above. The advantages in the participation of cross-border health activities for the 2 Chinese social organizations included geographically adjacent location, having abundant support of health facilities and manpower resource in border regions of China, and with a special service platform owing to the existence of cross-border clan populations and many Chinese-funded companies in Burma and the advantages could made the Chinese social organizations being much more easily and effectively to carry out cross-border health activities.

  Conclusion  Chinese social organizations could learn from experiences of foreign social organizations and give full play to their advantages in the participation of cross-border health activities.