DEMOCRACY IN ACTION

The Bhutan Hardware Association (BHA) has raised concerns regarding the upcoming Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime and how it might negatively affect the sector if certain actions are not taken or clarified. BHA Chair, Thinley Dorji, said members are confused about what will happen to the existing stock on …

Earlier this year in March, the Ministry of Industry Commerce and Employment (MoICE) asked the Bhutan Innovation Lab office under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to study the issue of duration discount, group discount and other tourism related issues. In the earlier system, after the 9th night, tourists got a …

Non-performing loans (NPLs) in the financial sector increased by 7.23 percent in May 2025 compared to the same month last year, according to the Macroeconomic Situation Report from the Ministry of Finance (MoF). NPLs stood at 3.33 percent, equivalent to about Nu 8.3 billion (bn). The report stated that the …

Foreign reserves are projected to reach USD 1.11 billion (bn) at the end of FY 2025–26, enough to cover 29 months of essential imports and provide a cushion against external shocks, according to the Macroeconomic situation update from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) for the fourth quarter of FY 24-25. …

The Ministry of Health (MoH) is finalizing the Revised Ex-Country Referral Guidelines, 2nd Edition 2025, aiming to ensure that patients receive timely, safe, and high-quality treatment abroad while making efficient use of public resources. “The purpose of this revision is to help patients get the best treatment possible and to …

The Ministry of Health (MoH) is pressing ahead with its plan to strengthen Thromde Health Centers (THCs), or filter clinics, in Thimphu to address chronic overcrowding at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH). Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk said that three THCs are already operational in the capital, each staffed …

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has proposed reducing the permissible blood alcohol concentration for drivers from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent, as part of new measures to curb the growing health risks from alcohol, tobacco, areca nut, and related products. The proposal is part of a wider effort that MoH …

In response to a question on the Paro valley from Isuna to Tsento coming under a LAP and concerns of people on the extent of land pooling and if Paro could end up like Kabesa in Thimphu or Dekiling in Bumthang with planning taking forever and no infrastructure put in …

Globally, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes are responsible for nearly 80 percent of deaths, claiming around 41 million lives each year, with 77 percent occurring in low- and middle-income countries.  Bhutan mirrors this global trend, with the Ministry of Health (MoH) reporting …

Thimphu Thromde has intensified efforts to improve road safety and reduce traffic congestion in South Thimphu, undertaking a series of infrastructure projects that range from replacing outdated speed bumps with modern speed bumps to building underpasses and roundabouts. The works, which began in mid-July, are part of a broader plan …