In the latest development on the proposal for the establishment of a medical college, the cabinet earlier this month asked the Khesar Gyelpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB) and the national referral hospital to again put up a proposal.
The proposal should explain how the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) can be used as a teaching hospital. The health minister said the establishment of the medical college should not affect the regular work of the JDWNRH.
“The cabinet is concerned as a hospital is needed for medical college,” said Lyonpo Tandin Wancghuk.
“Already, the Khesar Gyelpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan is using JDWNRH as a teaching hospital. As we add in more students, we have to look at the difficulties it would pose. Secondly, JDWNRH is meant for treating the sick. Therefore, to avoid unfavourable circumstances in the future, we have asked them to plan properly.”
The proposal for a medical college was put up to the Ministry of Education by the KGUMSB. The ministry forwarded the proposal to the cabinet.
The proposal was prompted by the protest in Sir Lanka that has affected the studies of some 120 Bhutanese medical students studying there.
Doctors and students in Sri Lanka are protesting to demand the shutdown of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM), the only private medical university in Sri Lanka. This has disrupted the classes of medical students for more than six months now.
Since it is not known when the strike would end, the KGUMSB proposed that a medical college be established in the country.
The Education Minister Norbu Wangchuk said the situation in Sri Lanka is an impetus for Bhutan to actually start MBBS in the country.
“We will not have to depend on the vagaries of different situations, which often are beyond our control,” said Lyonpo. “Also, there would be a consistent reliable stream of MBBS doctors coming into our system.”
The minister added it is also very difficult to get admissions in other countries due to the stringent admission policies and also because of immense pressure from domestic admissions.
