Assistance: The Ministry of Health, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Gross National Happiness Commission signed the minutes of the discussions on the preparatory survey report for the project of Improvement of Medical Equipment at the national and regional referral hospitals yesterday.

Bhutan had made a request in August 2015 to Japan for a grant aid project for provision of medical equipment to strengthen the diagnostic services at the national and regional referral hospitals through procurement of medical equipment particularly the Computed Tomography machine and other medical equipment to enable early diagnosis and treatment.

Following a proposal from the Ministry of Health, JICA, the executing agency of Japan’s grant aid, decided to conduct the survey and dispatched a study team to Bhutan in August 2016. The consultant team along with the JICA team carried out the assessment survey from August 13 to September 2016.

Documents highlight the consideration for the procurement of Computed Tomography (CT) (64 slice) machine for the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH), CT (16 slice) one each for Mongar Eastern Regional Referral Hospital (MERRH) and Gelephu Central Regional Referral Hospital (GCRRH), Digital X-Ray Machine for GCRRH, Mammography machine for the JDWNRH for the early diagnosis of breast cancer, and a Spirometer and ECG machine for the MERRH.

The final report will be submitted to the Japanese Cabinet for approval. If approved, procurement will take place in the first quarter of 2018.

Staff reporter