After a hiatus of a year due to the pandemic, the construction of the phase two package of the Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Mother and Child Hospital in Thimphu is back on track. The package will have state-of-the-art facilities that would significantly enhance maternal, pediatric and neonatal healthcare services in the country.
The site, located above the national referral hospital, is once again abuzz with construction activities. The work resumed last month, which is being carried out by both expatriate and Bhutanese labourers. The project started two and a half years ago but it got delayed due to various reasons including the pandemic.
“Moreover the construction got delayed as we could not get the consultant for the specialised services and we have to do tendering four times as we do not have any expertise in this field in our country. Another thing is we have to shelve the tender as the GNHC was looking for the fund since it’s a megaproject,” said Gyembo, the Project Manager of the GJPMCH.
But now with all these issues sorted out, the health ministry is confident to complete the work as per the deadline, marked for June, next year.
The phase two package includes birthing centre, newborn and pediatric intensive care units and fertility clinic, and maternity and pediatric wards.
Among other facilities are an OPD each for pediatric and gynaecology departments, an emergency ward for mother and child related illness, and an epidural ward that provides painless child delivery services.
Currently, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the national referral hospital is unable to provide effective services due to limited facilities.
“As per the protocol, women should be observed at least 48 hours after delivery in the hospital to see if there is any complication. But sometimes because of the bed crunch, we have to discharge women and the child within 24 hours because there are other women who are coming in active labour. Our emergency is overcrowded, because all types of emergency, be it trauma, be it, women in labour, or a baby who is sick all have to come,” said Dr Gosar Pemba, the Medical Superintendent with the JDWNRH.
Some pregnant mothers shared the problems they endured while seeking services.
“I was supposed to admit last Monday due to high blood pressure. Since there isn’t enough bed I had to return home. Today also I came to the hospital for an appointment with the doctor and let’s see what they say today,” said Zangmo Sherpa, an expecting mother.
“Right now in the old hospital, we have bed shortage. Some pregnant women who are in pain are sent back home and asked to come in case if the labour pain gets serious,” said Ugyen Lhamo, another expecting mother.
However, all these shortages are expected to be addressed once the overall construction of the Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Mother and Child Hospital is complete.
The phase one package of the hospital, which included the Community Health Department, became operational since June 2019. The department provides antenatal and postnatal care services.
Lauded as one of the biggest projects of the health ministry, its overall cost comes to more than Nu 1.3bn. It is being funded by the Government of India.
Last year, over 5,000 babies were born at the national referral hospital, making it the highest institutional delivery to date.
Choni Dema
