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| Ministry of Health (Bhutan) | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Ministry of Health |
| Formed | 1967 |
| Preceding | Department of Medical Services |
| Jurisdiction | Kingdom of Bhutan |
| Headquarters | Thimphu |
| Minister1 name | Dasho Dechen Wangmo |
| Minister1 pfo | Minister of Health |
| Parent agency | Royal Government of Bhutan |
Ministry of Health (Bhutan) The Ministry of Health in the Kingdom of Bhutan is the principal agency responsible for public health administration, primary care delivery, and national health policy. It coordinates health initiatives among regional hospitals, primary health centers, and agencies such as the Royal Civil Service Commission, National Health Policy, and international partners including the World Health Organization, United Nations Children's Fund, and World Bank.
The ministry's roots trace to the establishment of the Department of Medical Services during early modernization under the third Druk Gyalpo, leading to expansion through collaborations with India, United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Japan. Key milestones include the launch of the first nationwide immunization campaigns influenced by Smallpox eradication, influenza preparedness informed by the 2009 swine flu pandemic, and reforms aligned with the Bhutan 2020: A Vision for Peace, Prosperity and Happiness development strategy. The ministry adapted during periods marked by the Millennium Development Goals and later the Sustainable Development Goals, integrating traditional practices from Sowa Rigpa and coordinating responses to emergencies like COVID-19 pandemic in Bhutan.
The ministry operates from its headquarters in Thimphu with a cabinet-level minister reporting to the Prime Minister of Bhutan and the Cabinet of Bhutan. Its internal directorates include divisions for public health, clinical services, human resources, finance, and procurement, interfacing with the Bhutan Health Trust Fund, Royal Hospital of Bhutan, and regional referral hospitals such as Mongar Regional Referral Hospital, Phuentsholing Hospital, and Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital. It oversees cadres trained at institutions like the Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan and links with the Civil Society Organization sector, Bhutan Medical and Health Council, and the Department of Community Medicine.
The ministry formulates national health strategies, regulates standards through the Bhutan Medical and Health Council, licenses professionals trained in programs influenced by All India Institute of Medical Sciences partnerships, and delivers essential services via a network of district hospitals, primary health centers, and outreach units modeled on Community Health Worker systems. It coordinates disease surveillance with the Epidemiology Unit and collaborates with the National Immunization Program, Maternal and Child Health Program, and non-state actors like Red Cross Society of Bhutan and Caritas Internationalis for emergency relief and vaccination drives.
Major programs include the national immunization schedule guided by Expanded Programme on Immunization principles, maternal and newborn care aligned with Safe Motherhood initiatives, and noncommunicable disease strategies framed by World Health Organization Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs. The ministry implements mental health policies influenced by the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme and integrates traditional medicine through the Institute of Traditional Medicine Services. It has prioritized health equity in policies resonant with the Bhutan GNH Commission objectives and coordinated tobacco control measures in line with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Bhutan’s tiered health system under the ministry includes referral hospitals, district hospitals, and basic health units serving remote populations in valleys and highlands near borders with India and China. Telemedicine initiatives draw on models from telemedicine programs in India and partnerships with nongovernmental organizations to reach communities in districts like Lhuentse, Zhemgang, and Haa. Emergency medical services coordinate with the Royal Bhutan Army and Bhutan Police during disasters, while laboratory networks collaborate with centers linked to the Global Fund and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for diagnostic capacity.
Funding sources for the ministry include allocations from the national budget approved by the National Assembly of Bhutan, donor support from entities such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, USAID, and bilateral aid from countries like India, United Kingdom, and Japan. The ministry manages financing instruments including the Bhutan Health Trust Fund and project-based grants tied to programs such as immunization, maternal health, and health system strengthening under frameworks similar to Sector-Wide Approach financing.
The ministry engages in bilateral and multilateral cooperation with organizations such as the World Health Organization, United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF, World Bank, and regional collaboration through South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation health initiatives. It participates in global health forums including the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia and collaborates on training links with universities like Mahidol University, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, and institutions in Australia and Switzerland for capacity building, research, and technical assistance.
Category:Health ministries Category:Organizations based in Thimphu Category:Healthcare in Bhutan