Agency: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has initiated the Health Sector Transformation 2.0 with a renewed emphasis on strengthening governance and institutional restructuring.
The move comes in response to challenges that emerged following the establishment of the National Medical Services (NMS) on9th January 2023 which was created to centralise and manage all clinical services in the country.
While centralization was intended to streamline healthcare, it became clear that unintended challenges had arisen. Medical professionals were often redirected from clinical duties to administrative tasks, weakening the administrative structure of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital ( JDWNRH). “At that time, we had 1,600 staff but faced technical shortages and lacked proper administration. In that process, we lost focus due to a poor management system at JDWNRH,” said Health Minister Tandin Wangchuk.
The challenges also created a disconnect between clinical care and public health, raising concerns about service delivery.
Lyonpo emphasized that even Mongar Regional Hospital and Gelephu Regional Hospital had stronger administrative systems than JDWNRH.
JDWNRH, as the last line of defense, carries the weight of care for the entire nation, receiving patients from all 19 dzongkhags.
MoH said, “Granting JDWNRH autonomy is important as it will operate independently from the NMS and Health Sector Transformation 2.0 to Improve JDWNRH Management, only through its governing council.”
Lyonpo said that this move empowers the hospital to manage its operations more efficiently and provide the highest quality of care to the people of Bhutan.