The health ministry has indicated that the construction of Bhutan’s first Multi-Disciplinary Super-Speciality Hospital will begin in March next year. It is expected to provide advanced medical services, including organ transplants, cancer treatment, and other specialised care that are currently limited or unavailable in the country. The health minister said additional foreign specialists will be hired to address workforce shortages.
This is the master plan for the project. These blocks marked red are where three new facilities will be constructed. These existing infrastructures will be replaced by a 250-bed National Cancer Hospital, a 400-bed In-Patient Diagnostic block, and an Out-Patient Diagnostic block.
The existing referral hospital will be refurbished as Thimphu General Hospital.
The super-speciality hospital is expected to reduce overcrowding at the national referral hospital and improve access to specialised healthcare services. It will also introduce high-quality special care to minimise dependence on ex-country referrals.
Health Minister Tandin Wangchuk said, “The need for a new specialised hospital is inevitable. Although it is not included in the 13th Five-Year Plan, we have decided to proceed with the construction of the Multi-Disciplinary Super-Speciality Hospital. With financial support from the Indian government, we floated tenders to select bidders renowned for their expertise in hospital construction and, in coordination with the Indian Embassy, have shortlisted three firms.”
Currently, the health ministry has floated tenders to bid for the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), the project’s blueprint.
Once the firm is selected, the DPR process will begin by assessing whether the existing blocks should be demolished or refurbished. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport will spearhead the construction.
Although the hospital was initially expected to be completed by the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan, the health minister said the timeline will depend on the completion of the DPR.
The health minister said the project, worth 8.9 billion ngultrum, will be funded by the Indian government.
With the health worker shortage expected to intensify with the opening of the new hospital, the health minister said the immediate plan is to hire foreign specialists. He added that Bhutanese specialists currently serving in regional hospitals with a lesser workload will also be redeployed.
For the long term, the minister said local health workers and specialists will be trained to enhance their capacity. The increased intake of nursing students is also expected to meet the workforce demand.
The health ministry announced the construction of the Multi-Disciplinary Super-Speciality Hospital on February 21, this year, commemorating the birthday of His Majesty The King.
Tashi Dekar
Edited by Kipchu
