The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Bhutan continues to face shortages of doctors and nurses against the staffing requirements approved by the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) for the 13th Five-Year Plan (FYP), with a gap of 366 nurses, 120 general doctors and 139 specialists.
According to the approved staffing requirements, the country needs 376 specialists, of whom 237 are currently available, leaving a gap of 138. The figures for general doctors show a requirement of 296 against 176 existing staff, while nurses stand at 1,888 against the required 2,254.
Health Assistants (HAs), however, are above the approved requirement, with 590 currently available against the required 538, resulting in a surplus of 52.
President of the , said the staffing gaps come as the health system continues to lose workers through resignation, retirement and other forms of separation.
The Ministry of Health loses approximately 13 to 16 doctors, 136 to 159 nurses and around 25 Health Assistants every year.
Dr Mimi said recruitment has exceeded the number of doctors and nurses leaving the system in recent years, although shortages remain.
“For doctors and nurses, our recruitment has stayed ahead of attrition in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, for example, we recruited 308 nurses against 136 who left, and 28 doctors against 16 who left the system. However, the gap remains, so the ministry will continue to prioritise recruitment and retention of nurses and doctors,” she said.
Despite recruiting more workers than the number leaving, the existing workforce remains below the approved staffing requirements for doctors and nurses.
The ministry determines recruitment needs by considering the number of health workers approved under the RCSC’s 13th FYP staffing standards, the existing workforce in each category and the gaps created when health workers leave the system.
The figures indicate that retaining existing health workers and filling vacancies will remain important in addressing the staffing shortages, particularly among doctors and nurses.
