The ongoing global pandemic situation continues to affect the implementation of the Digital Drukyul Flagship Programme in the country. Roughly about 40 per cent of the overall works have been completed after the flagship programme was officially approved in 2019.
The Department of Information Technology and Telecom (DITT) under the information and communications ministry is leading the implementation of the Information Communication and Technology or ICT flagship programme. According to the department, at least 50 per cent of the works should have been completed had it not been for the pandemic.
“The current challenge we are facing is the delivery of equipment. We have already awarded the works to suppliers. Same like us here, the country where we have placed orders for equipment are facing similar problems. So, starting from the factory itself, production has been downsized. So, the equipment could not be manufactured. Also, because of the closure of international borders and reduced flight schedules, most of the equipment, as I receive updates from the project managers, are stuck at Singapore and Malaysia,” said Sonam Penjor, the Head of the Application Management Division at the DITT under MoIC.
With the pandemic delaying the completion of the programme, the government also extended the deadline for the electronic patient information system and the Bhutan integrated tax system being developed by local developers at the Thimphu Tech Park. The electronic patient information system will maintain the digital health records of the citizens and is expected to reduce the use of prescription papers and enhance the use of information and communications technology in providing equal services with checks and balances in place.
The Bhutan integrated tax system, expected to be complete by the end of this year, will implement an enhanced taxation system to improve the quality of data on taxes.
The department is also awaiting the government’s approval to begin the nationwide rollout of the National Digital Identity project, one of the major components of the flagship programme. So far, Desuups have collected biometric data of more than 17 thousand people in Thimphu during the pilot phase in the last few months. The project will issue unique digital identities to every resident of the country and ensure smooth online services.
With a budget allocation of more than Nu 3bn, the flagship programme intends to harness the potential of ICT and transform Bhutan into a smart and inclusive society by the end of 2023.
Phub Gyem
Edited by Sonam
