Without an ophthalmologist at Trashigang Hospital, people are compelled to travel to the Monggar Regional Referral Hospital for eye care. Residents say having an ophthalmologist stationed in the district would not only benefit them but also people in the nearby districts.
At present, the hospital’s lone eye technician provides only basic eye-care services, such as vision checks, general examinations, and basic medical treatment.
According to hospital records, around 20 patients visit the unit daily, totalling nearly 300 patients a month.
Patients who require further medical assessment are referred to the Monggar or to other hospitals where an ophthalmologist is available.
With the district’s large population, residents feel that having a specialist in Trashigang would make a huge difference.
Sanga Choden, a resident of Samkhar Gewog in Trashigang said, “When they refer us to Monggar for further check-ups, we have to reserve a taxi, and that becomes a problem because we have to spend a lot.”
Pema Jigme, a resident of Narang Gewog in Monggar said, “Although my village falls under Monggar, I come to Trashigang Hospital because it is closer. There’s no bus service from my village. Hiring a taxi to Monggar costs around 5,000 ngultrum, but it is half the price to come to Trashigang. It would be very helpful if an eye specialist was posted here.”
“When we travel to Monggar for medical check-ups, it’s manageable if we have relatives there. But if we don’t, we have to rent a room and pay charges. Sometimes we are seen within a few days, but other times we have to stay longer, and that becomes difficult,” said Dorji Lhamo, a resident of Kanglung Gewog, Trashigang.
The Chief Medical Officer of Trashigang said that, according to the human resource standards, the hospital is categorised as a cluster hospital and is therefore not eligible for an ophthalmologist.
However, he noted that the hospital conducts an eye camp annually.
As the demand for eye-care services continues to grow, residents hope that authorities will reconsider staffing requirements so that essential specialist care can be made more accessible in the district.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Sangay Chezom
