The Bhutanese Leading the way.
With Nu 53 billion (bn) set aside under the 13th Five-Year-Plan, much of the focus is going into health and skills development, seen as key pillars to strengthen the country’s human capital.
In healthcare, several upgrades are being rolled out to improve how people are diagnosed and treated, especially in areas with high disease burdens. There are plans to train more healthcare workers and keep them updated.
On top of improving services, the government has already started building a new hospital and expanding the National Referral Hospital in Thimphu into a 450-bedded Super Specialty Hospital.
Traditional medicine services will also be extended this year.
The report also highlights the importance of supporting families, especially in the face of Bhutan’s falling birth rates. As part of that effort, “To improve maternal and child health outcomes, the Government has allocated Nu 72 million.”
A longer-term measure is also being developed to ensure no one is left behind at any point in life. “The National Social Protection Strategy, currently under development, will adopt a lifecycle approach to address vulnerabilities from childhood to old age.”
The strategy will look at different stages of life and offer the kind of support people need, whether as children, youth, working adults, or senior citizens.
