Despite not winning the top prize, 21-year-old Gyalsup Ugyen Dorji from Barp Gewog in Punakha emerged as one of the top finalists at the international pitching competition, earning recognition for his innovative dishwasher project. Ugyen represented Bhutan at the CezeriFEST 2025 International 3D Design & 3D Printing Competition in Turkey. …
Read More »Running to reconnect: Why Bhutan Road Runners are crossing the country on foot
As the first light of dawn touched the southern hills of Samtse, two runners stood by the roadside, tightening their shoelaces against the cold. With backpacks on their shoulders and Bhutan’s national flag fluttering behind them, they began running, step by step, towards the other end of Bhutan. The runners are part …
Read More »BFDA detects unsafe modern and traditional medicines containing lead, mercury, and toxic chemicals
The Drug Regulatory Authority (DRA), under the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA), has until now detected three medicines, both traditional and modern that were found to contain lead and chemical substances beyond permissible limits for human consumption, marking its first such case. When asked about traditional medicines, the DRA …
Read More »Annual Health Bulletin 2025: Increasing cases of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and malaria in Bhutan
Bhutan has witnessed a concerning rise in infectious diseases, with new cases and deaths from tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, and malaria increasing compared to the previous years, according to the Ministry of Health’s Annual Health Bulletin 2025. These three diseases are collectively known as Big Three Infectious Diseases (BTIDS). They consistently …
Read More »Bhutan Stroke Foundation to assess NCD risk in monasteries nationwide
The Bhutan Stroke Foundation (BSF) is planning to conduct a nationwide stroke risk assessment across monasteries and religious institutions in the country, marking one of the first large-scale efforts to assess stroke vulnerability within Bhutan’s monastic community. The foundation’s Executive Director Rinchen Khandu said, “The initiative will be implemented with …
Read More »MoESD to launch free-of-cost three-year diploma and TVET pathways
During recent parliamentary sessions, the Education Minister, Yeezang De Thapa, stated that students who have failed four to five times in a single grade or repeatedly across different grades should consider alternative education pathways, particularly Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Encouraging such students to opt for skills-based education, …
Read More »Class PP admissions remain limited in high-demand areas like Thimphu Thromde: Education Minister
To ease the transition for the 2026 intake, the Education Minister Lyonpo Yeezang De Thapa said that Thimphu Thromde extended accommodation by allowing PP admission for children aged five years, four months, and twenty-five days as of 1 March 2026. “This adjustment advances the earlier cut-off date of 5 February, …
Read More »Salary differences between Bhutanese and foreign nurses are explained by contract and housing allowance
Bhutan’s healthcare system is facing a widening nursing workforce gap, driven largely by high attrition, forcing the Ministry of Health to rely on short-term foreign recruitment to ensure uninterrupted patient care. During the 23rd Meet the Press Session, Dr Kuenzang Wangdi, the Director of National Medical Services, said the entire country …
Read More »MoH plans to strengthen cancer treatment facilities to reduce patient referrals abroad
The Ministry of Health (MoH) is exploring ways to strengthen cancer care in Bhutan, including the possibility of expanding radiation therapy services within the country. When asked about the future of the unit, the Director of National Medical Services, Dr Kuenzang Wangdi, said that the previous contract with the vendor …
Read More »RAA and PAC review reveals unrepaired toilets and unsafe water in schools
During the 3rd Sitting of the Joint Sitting of the Fourth Parliament, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) reviewed the findings of the Royal Audit Authority (RAA) and expanded its assessment to examine the state of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities and services in all 566 government schools across Bhutan. …
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