Nima Wangdi 

The health ministry has submitted the detailed project report (DPR) for the multi-disciplinary super-speciality hospital (MDSSH) construction in Thimphu to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MoFAET) to seek funding.

Sowai Lyonpo Dechen Wangmo, during the virtual meet the press yesterday, said, “MoFAET will take up the matter with the Government of India bilaterally.”

Lyonpo said the hospital would be built on the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) premises in the old hospital area.

“Once complete, the hospital will provide all the health services that require ex-country referral at the moment,” Lyonpo said.

All the tertiary-level health services will be made available, which comprises mainly of cardiology, organ transplant, and cancer treatment services.

Lyonpo said, usually, many build the hospital structure first and then look for funds to buy equipment, and train people. “But MDHSS will be whole one package where everything will come together.”

The health ministry is following the same model for other health projects like Royal Centre for Infectious Disease (RCID) at Gidakom hospital, which is worth Nu 1.7 billion.

She said the concept of green hospital design or sustainable eco-design will start with MDSSH and RCID. “Even the paints we use will be non-toxic and children-friendly. There will also be solar panels where electricity will be generated on its own.”

Lyonpo said, “As we have to be sustainable, we have initiated oxygen plants at JDWNRH and Mongar hospitals. This is through the lesson we learned from the pandemic during which the ministry had to stock a lot of oxygen.”

According to Lyonpo, the construction of MDSSH is outside plan activity. Indian Prime Minister agreed to help us build during his visit to Bhutan.

“An expert team from India visited Bhutan and assessed construction considering our disease pattern and infrastructures we already have,” Lyonpo said. The team proposed a budget of Nu 5.6 Billion for the project.