The Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital is currently relocating its Department of Dentistry back to the hospital from Taba. Five dental chairs have already been moved to the new location, including two for pediatric, and one each for endodontics, orthodontics, and oral surgery. The move is being done in phases to avoid disrupting services. The hospital aims to complete the transition by the end of this month.
One of the major challenges after moving to Taba has been accessibility. Patients, particularly those with limited mobility, have found it difficult to access the clinic.
Additionally, the distance between the dental department and the national referral hospital has made it challenging, especially for patients needing multiple services.
Officials from the National Referral Hospital said that moving the department back to its original location aims to improve patient access and make better use of resources.
They added that the logistical difficulties at Taba were preventing the department from providing timely and efficient dental care.
The new move is expected to address these issues by making dental services more accessible and improving coordination with other departments.
While the core dental services will remain the same, officials said that the move may open up opportunities to expand specialised surgical services with access to the operating theatre and other hospital resources.
The dental department was relocated to Taba in May last year to decongest the national referral hospital and develop a more comprehensive dental service.
Karma Samten Wangda
Edited by Sonam Pem
