The indigenous clinic in Jomotshangkha hospital receives about 20 patients, mostly elderly as far as from Lauri and Serthi gewogs, every week.

The patients prefer to have herbal steam for skin, nerve diseases and jaundice.

But most patients return home with medicines.

Operating in a small room, the indigenous clinic does not have steam facilities and the clinic in-charge, Pema Wangchuk, said the clinic is in need of separate space to improve and enhance the medical services for the public in future.

He said the clinic has been shifting from one room to another since the service started in 2009. “I shifted to this room a month ago because the room I was occupying is used as a store for allopathic medication .”

He said there is no separate designated space for an indigenous medical clinic and it affects the future service planning. “To enhance and plan the indigenous medical services, it’s important to have at least two clinics for all the indigenous clinic services in the country.”

Pema Wangchuk said people from India, who live nearby, also come to avail indigenous medical service. “We cannot give treatment because of the lack of space.”

He also said it is important to have an adequate budget to procure medicines and necessary equipment for the clinic.

Kelzang Wangchuk |  Jomotshangkha

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