In what could be considered as important milestones in the development of health system in the country, the new Central Regional Referral Hospital (CRRH) in Gelephu and the new Tsirang Dzongkhag Hospital in Tsirang were inaugurated by health minister Tandin Wangchuk last Tuesday.
The new CRRH boasts of a state-of-the-art 150 bedded tertiary care health facility in Gelephu, worth around Nu. 834.305mn and built over 52 months with financial help from the Government of India.
Health minister Tandin Wangchuk, through his Facebook post, mentioned that the CRRH holds a major significance to the overall framework of health system in Bhutan.
“It’s a critical component of our referral system. We fulfill the requirement of having an appropriate level of tertiary care hospital in each of our western, central and eastern regions. Besides, through effective gate keeping and patient load distribution, this hospital will play an important role in further improvement and specialization of the services of JDWNR Hospital in Thimphu,” the minister said.
“We are aware of emergency situations, travel difficulties, logistical inconveniences in availing services from the JDWNR Hospital in Thimphu. I am positive that the hospital would make important contributions to health and wellbeing of our people in the central region,” he added.
The CRRH, more importantly, is expected to benefit the central region comprising the six Dzongkhags of Bumthang, Dagana, Sarpang, Trongsa, Tsirang, and Zhemgang in terms of have their own tertiary level facilities and services.
The health minister also thanked the government and people of Japan for the donation of CT scan machines and digital X-ray machines to equip the newly built hospital and Lopon Tharpola for generously contributing a Sangay Menlha statue.
Meanwhile, the new 40 bedded Tsirang Dzongkhag Hospital was also inaugurated. The hospital construction was reportedly financed through the Project Tied Assistance of the Government of India and completed in 38 months 12 days at the cost of Nu. 218mn.
“The Ministry of Health is grateful for the generous and important assistance of the Government of India. I also wish to thank all those who have been directly or indirectly involved in this important project. This launch is not just a mere physical accomplishment but also a huge step towards a renewed effort in realizing our collective aspirations in the health sector; an aspiration to bring quality health services closer to our people. Through this feat, I am positive that we can further boost our efforts towards our goal of equitable and quality Universal Health Coverage,” wrote the health minister on his Facebook page.
Besides its core medical facilities and services, the new hospital is reportedly equipped with air conditioning, fire protection, medical gas, central hot water supply, water tank capacity of 20,000 liters, LAN and electrical back-up systems.
According to the health minister, the hospital would not only enhance the lives and wellbeing of people of Tsirang Dzongkhag but it would also benefit travelers and people in the nearby communities.
Staff Reporter from Thimphu
