Shortage of indigenous traditional medicine has become a concern. It was one of the main concerns raised at the Traditional Medicine Conference held in Bumthang.
The Department of Traditional Medicine Services (DTMS) says the drug shortage is arising partly because of increase in the number of traditional medicine facilities and also due to rise in the number of people visiting traditional hospitals.
“Also we have only one pharmaceutical in the country. We will discussed all these issues during our conference,” said Dungtsho Karma Gaylek, Chief Programme Officer of DTMS.
The other reason that participants raised was difficulty in availing medicinal herbs to make medicines.
Dungtsho Karma said the shortage was severe in Dzongkhags like Thimphu, Bumthang, Monggar and Paro.
During the three-day conference, other issues such as cross referral system, integration of traditional medicines with modern medicines and expansion and extension of traditional medicine services were discussed.
