THIMPHU, 08 August 2021, (TON): Should everything work out as planned, Bhutan will have its first MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) programme by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan.

The Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB) is currently in an advanced stage of planning phase to introduce the programme.

KGUMSB’s President, Dr Kinzang P Tshering, said that one of the main activities outlined in the 12th Plan for the university was starting a MBBS programme in the country. Following the proposal to introduce the programme, the university’s governing council had asked KGUMSB to prepare a detailed project report (DPR).

Dr Kinzang P Tshering said that works are ongoing and the DPR is expected to be ready by the end of the year. He said that the government was also supportive of the idea and the planning activities were in an advance stage.

According to the annual health bulletin 2021, there are 140 doctors as medical superintendent, chief medical officers, medical officers, and general duties medical officers in the country today. There are also 122 medical specialists.

Although the number of doctors per 1,000 population has slightly increased from 0.43 in 2019 to 0.46 in 2020, the overall doctor-population ratio is still lower than the ratio recommended by the World Health Organsiation (WHO).