Bhutan health ministry has signed a contractual agreement with India

The health ministry has signed a contractual agreement with a consortium of Bhutanese and Indian technology companies to improve healthcare service delivery by setting up a health help centre (HHC).

The HHC is an initiative, under the accelerating Bhutan’s socio-economic development program, through specific initiatives, like the healthcare helpline and emergency response system, as detailed in the performance compact signed with the prime minister in December 2009.
With the healthcare helpline, the ministry claims that patients could call a toll free number twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week to seek medication, counselling, public health information and other associated helpline. “In case of complications, a patient shall be directed to the nearest health facility adequately equipped and having capacity to attend the patient immediately,” states a press release from the ministry.

As a part of the emergency response system, patients in emergency could call a toll free 24X7 and request an ambulance at the location of the incident. The nearest ambulance would then be dispatched to the location to pick up the patient, according to the press release. “The health facility would also be intimated of the patient’s arrival, so that they are prepared to handle the case.”

Both the initiatives are to be launched by December 17.

The consortium comprise of the Regal information technology in Thimphu, Equant technology services pvt ltd and Procreate techno systems pvt ltd, both Indian companies.

Source: Kuenselonline