The Health Minister is on a two-day visit to Sarpang Dzongkhag to review COVID -19 preparedness and response mechanism.
While in Gelegphu, the Health Minister acknowledged the health officials for putting in their best effort in combating the incursion of COVID -19 from neighboring bordering town of Assam. Lyonpo said that safety has to be a top priority, especially in the south considering the capacity of our health system.
The health minister also said that Gelegphu Central Regional Referral Hospital will no longer have to send test samples to Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Referral Hospital in Thimphu as RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription-Polymerase chain reaction) machine will be installed in Gelegphu Hospital.
She said Gelegphu hospital will be the fourth hospital in the country to be equipped with RT- PCR machine. The three other hospitals are in Thimphu, Phuntsholing and Monggar.
The minister also discussed concerns raised by health officials on the consumption of junk food and soft drinks by young people exposing their risk to non-communicable diseases.
Lyonpo said that additional taxes will be introduced for commodities that are harmful to health like chips, processed food, processed meat while commodities that promote health including sanitary pad, sports equipment would be exempted from tax. Lyonpo also said that they will be reviewing the Alcohol policy.
Karma Wangdi
