Yangyel Lhaden

At the Thromde Health Centre (THC) in Motithang, a doctor monitors the blood pressure of Tshering Dolma, a woman in her fifties. He looks concerned. Her blood pressure is high. The doctor advises Dolma to rest for 30 minutes hoping a little rest will bring it down before they check again.

“You will not get this kind of service at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH),” Tshering Dolma says. “There, no one has the luxury of waiting and going back to the doctor’s chamber.”

Funded by the Asian Development Bank, the four THCs—located in Babena, Semtokha, Motithang, and Debsi—were primarily initiated to decongest JDWNRH. Another THC is situated in Phuntsholing.

Are THCs really helping JDWNRH decongest?

The THCs are still being fully equipped with infrastructure and staff, while JDWNRH remains overloaded. For example, Motithang THC is waiting for a dental doctor, a pharmacist, x-ray technician, and ultrasound technician though the equipment is ready, and other THCs face a similar delay.

Despite this, all THCs have a general duty medical officer, health assistants, and technicians. They offer basic services similar to a Basic Health Unit Grade One, including lab tests, X-rays, ultrasounds, oral and eye care, minor surgeries, trauma care, maternal and child health, and general consultations.

With an average patient turnover of about 35 minutes and approximately 150 patients served daily, these centres are making a notable impact. They have also assumed responsibility for maternal and child health services in their areas, further easing the strain on JDWNRH.

A clinical officer at Motithang Primary Health Center, Ratna Lal Dahal, recalls the struggles of running the clinic back when it was just a satellite facility, renting a cramped space near the Royal University of Bhutan office. “We were all squeezed into limited rooms,” he says. “Almost every service was delivered from that tiny space. It was tough, really inconvenient.”

But things have changed now. “With the new building and better equipment, everything is quicker, safer, and much more comfortable for the public,” he adds with a smile.

Tshering Dolma says the Motithang THC  has made it easier for her to keep up with routine checkups and health screenings. She has even had a Pap smear done.  “I can’t imagine going all the way to JDWNRH for screenings—waiting in long lines, spending the whole day just for a simple test. This place makes it so much easier.”

She urges everyone not to wait until they are sick to visit a hospital. “Pre-screening is so important. It could help reduce the nation’s healthcare costs by catching things early,” she adds, with quiet conviction.

At Simtokha THC, a mother hurries in with her seven-year-old daughter, who has been sent home from school due to illness. The little girl, dressed in her school uniform, looks pale and uneasy. In less than 30 minutes, she is already in the doctor’s chamber.

“I’m so grateful for this health centre,” the mother says, her voice filled with relief. “It means I can get my daughter the care she needs without missing a whole day of school.”