Sherab Lhamo

Decongesting the hospital, funding for emergency procurement, additional budget for enhancing services and strategies to retain health workers are some of the recommendations the Thimphu national referral hospital management submitted to the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay shared this yesterday at the first meet the press session where the entire cabinet ministers attended. Lyonchhoen said that there are three thromde health centres and another one is almost completed to provide similar service and equipped with doctors, specialists, laboratories and diagnostic services. “ People need not visit the JDWNRH,” he said.

The government is also planning to provide Telemedicine — services to provide medical services online, and telepathology —a type of telemedicine to practise pathology in the future.

Funding for emergency procurement has also been decided by the government.

After Lyonchhoen’s visit to the hospital on his first day in office and asked the management to submit a report, the management recommended an additional budget to enhance services that includes buying new equipment such as MRIs and CT scans.

Plans to recruit new doctors, hire retired health workers, one-year meritorious promotion for those who attend special training and provide clinical allowances were shared by the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, there are plans to set up a De-ssup Skilling Program (DSP) canteen similar to DSP canteen at Chubachu, Kaja Throm and Royal Takin Preserve at the hospital, where the food items will be sold at cheaper rates to the staff and market rate to others.

A crèche and a nursery where young children are cared for during the working day have also been decided. The project will be carried out by the Save the Children office in Bhutan. “Talks are also on to set up a gym facility at the hospital premise for the staff,” Lyonchhen shared.