The construction of a 10-bedded hospital at Drujeygang Gewog in Dagana is in full swing. It is expected to be complete by next year. Once complete, the hospital will have additional health staff and provide better health services compared to the existing Primary Health Centre.
Currently, the Primary Health Centre provides basic medical services along with mother and child health care services. Today, the health centre has a health assistant in charge and two clinical staff.
Around 800 patients visit the centre monthly. But once the new hospital is complete, it will have a doctor and ten nurses. There will be a laboratory, x-ray and ultrasound unit, dental and traditional medicine services.
For now, people travel to the district hospital which is more than two hours’ drive from Drukjeygang to avail themselves of the health services.
“Currently, patients with noncommunicable diseases have to travel to Dagapela or Tsirang every month to test blood. Once the new hospital is inaugurated, those services will be provided from here,” said Tek Bahadur Tamang, HA in charge of the centre.
“Earlier, we had to travel to Dagapela hospital. It is far and the road is in bad condition. It was easy for us to visit Tsirang hospital but the hospital staff asked us to visit Dagapela as there is a hospital there. Now, the new hospital will benefit us,” said Jigme Nidup, a resident.
“The new hospital in Drujeygang will help the economically disadvantaged people,” said Rinchen Dema, another resident.
Besides the people of Drujeygang Gewog, the upgradation of the hospital will benefit the people of nearby Gewogs as well.
“Drujeygang’s Primary Health Center will be upgraded to a 10-bedded hospital. Earlier, there were only three staff and an ambulance. It will help the people of four nearby Gewogs of Laja, Tsangkha, Khebisa and Drujeygang,” said Dorji Wangchuk, District Health Officer.
The construction of the hospital began in September last year and is expected to be completed by July next year. It will have around 30 to 40 staff.
Krishna Ghalley, Dagana
Edited by Tshering Zam
