Health ministry’s Infrastructure Development Division fears that the ongoing constructions, under the ministry, may not complete on time, given the shortage of civil engineers followed by architect and other technical manpower.
Infrastructure Development Division’s Senior Engineer, SB Gurung said with the present number of technical people, it would be extremely challenging to have timely completion of hospital constructions.
The ministry’s division has just about 10 civil engineers, two architects and one mechanical engineer. On the other hand, around six hospitals are currently under construction and in the pipeline in Gelegphu, Samtse, Tsirang, Haa, Samdrup Jongkhar, and Thimphu.
The Gelegphu Regional Hospital, which is under construction at the moment, is worth Nu 690 M. The upcoming Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Mother and Child Hospital will cost about Nu 700 M. Tsirang hospital will cost around Nu 300 M.
“To implement projects of this scale will require more civil engineers as early as possible,” said the Health Secretary, Dr. Dorji Wangchuk.
The Secretary also said they foresee larger constructions, as well as the maintenance of larger hospitals, in the 12th Five Year Plan. He said Monggar, Gelegphu and JDWNR Hospitals would require maintenance.
The Secretary said the ministry requires some 15 additional civil engineers but Royal Civil Service Commission had recruited only about two civil engineers for the health ministry, this year.
RCSC notified 37 vacancies for civil engineers this year but it managed to recruit only 14 from the civil service common exam, a month ago.
Over 140 civil engineers appeared for the exam. However, only 14 of them secured 50 cut off percentage.
