Bhutanese health system has come a long way from a lone physician in 1950 to hundreds of medical professionals. More than six decades on, the Health Ministry is still battling with the issue of referrals outside the country for further treatment. The cost of referrals has been going up every year.
In just about six months, the Ministry estimated to have spent more than Nu. 80 million for this.The cost is expected to rise further with more diseases getting diagnosed over the period, according to the Vice-Chairperson of the National Referral Committee, Dr. Dhrupthop Sonam.
In the last two and half years, patients referred have increased by 20 percent costing roughly about Nu. 160 million.Some of the officials admitted that the budget apportioned for referral treatments never seems to meet the actual costs.
“The Health Ministry is concerned too,” said the Minister, Zangley Dukpa.“How we budget is, we just put 5-10 percent more than what it was approved the previous year. So it is very difficult.”
The Minister added that the cost is escalating and so are the referrals. “No matter how much prudent and judicious….but the cost is going up,” said Lyonpo Zangley Drukpa.
Now,with only about Nu.20 million left for the next six months of the total Nu. 105 million allocated in its 2011-12 referral budget, the Ministry might have to resort towards the supplementary budget from the government.
The Committee, meanwhile,is consulting among specialists to reduce the costs.
