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The highest share of health related expenditure, 58 percent, went into conducting religious ceremonies (rimdo or puja) according to the Bhutan Living Standards Survey (BLSS) 2017, reflecting the strong affinity of Bhutanese towards spirituality and the centrality of spiritual support. Total transportation charges (for emergency and non-emergency) consti­tuted a fourth …

Agriculture continues to remain the mainstay occupation of more than 80 percent of the population in Lhuentse, Paro, and Zhemgang according to the report on citizen’s perception on basic public services carried out by Bhutan Transparency Initiative (BTI) on Implementation of 11th Five Year Plan. The report states that agriculture …

Longer waiting time for patients and delay in delivery of consultation services at the JDWNRH, are the main issues pointed out by a performance audit report on delivery of OPD services. The average waiting time for patients in medical OPD is observed at one hour 38 minutes and general OPD …

In line with the recommendation made by the parliament, the RAA conducted the performance audit with an overall objective to ascertain the economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the management of school feeding with a specific focus on nutrition covering the government funded schools for two financial periods. The RAA had …

The Gyalpoi Zimpon’s office provided semso of Nu 10,000 each to the relatives of the five deceased who lost their lives in recent car accident in Mongar. The accident took place on 6th December when the car (Santro) that they were driving veered off the road at Zimzorong, 10 km …

The works and human settlement, Dorji Choden, answered numerous questions on the widening of the national highways and construction of dzongkhag and gewog roads during parliament’s question hour session this week. Responding to queries by the Wamrong and Nubi Tangsibji MPs, the minister said the widening of the east west …

The slash in petrol and diesel prices earlier this month due to the non levying of excise, which the government decided to transfer to people, has led to some taxis saying the drop is too steep while passengers argued the opposite especially for bus fares. The revised fare for taxi …

Despite significant improvement in under-five mortality, from 162 to 33 per 1000 live births in a country, new-born deaths remains high accounting for 70% of all infant deaths and more than half of under-five deaths. Currently, 21 of every 1,000 newborn babies die within the first month of birth where …

Thimphu police apprehended a 35-year-old man from Naja, Paro, for conning elderly people after a 70-year old woman lodged a complaint on November 13. As per the police, the woman met the suspect near swimming pool, Thimphu, claiming to be her son’s friend. The suspect asked for Nu 1,000 from …

In the first two weeks of November Thimphu police arrested 27 people, including one woman, for both abusing and illicit trafficking of drugs. Of the 27 arrested eight are students, five are private employees, 13 are unemployed and one is a businessman.