Dechen Dolkar

The Regional Office of Industry, Commerce and Employment has suspended two private diagnostic centres in Thimphu—Menjong Diagnostic Centre and Padkar Diagnostic Centre—due to regulatory violations, including failure to adhere to proper standards and providing clinical services beyond their authorised scope.

On September 30, the department issued a notification suspending the licenses of both centres, preventing them from offering services until further notice.

However, the suspension was revoked after one week. The department issued a letter to the centres yesterday, stating that the centres could resume operations starting today, although the reasons for revoking the suspension remain unclear. The Department of Trade could not be reached for comment.

The Ministry of Health had requested the Department of Trade to suspend the licences of the diagnostic centres during the renewal process due to their failure to meet proper standards and their provision of clinical services outside their authorized scope.

The licenses for both diagnostic centres are set to expire in December.

According to the Ministry of Health, the diagnostic centres were not following proper guidelines. The centres were found to be prescribing treatments to patients, a practice that exceeds their mandate.

“They also failed to comply with proper standards while providing services,” the ministry stated.

Under the Health Policy of 2011, private sector participation in healthcare is restricted to selective diagnostic services such as laboratory tests, radiology, and endoscopic services, based solely on recommendations from government health professionals.

However, the ministry found that both centres were offering clinical services, including treatment prescriptions, which are not permitted under the policy. They had repeatedly failed to comply with the standard operating procedures outlined in their memorandum of understanding.

“They are not adhering to the guidelines set for private diagnostic centres,” the ministry added.

The Ministry of Health reportedly issued multiple warnings to the centres to correct their practices, but no action was taken.

Currently, there are 11 private diagnostic centres operating across the country.

According to the framework guidelines for establishing private selective diagnostic services, private sector involvement in healthcare should not affect the general population’s free access to public health services provided by government facilities.