THIMPHU: Bhutan emerged as a trailblazer in primary healthcare (PHC) assessment in South Asia, stated a joint study conducted by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in collaboration with the World Bank, supported financially by the Government of Japan and The Global Fund.
The essence of this achievement lies in addressing evolving health challenges and fortifying the healthcare system for resilience and adaptability to future needs. These evaluations aim to gauge the current status of PHC and unearth strengths and prospects for improvement.
Key focal points of the assessments encompass the Primary Health Care Performance Initiative (PHCPI), Service Delivery Indicators (SDI), and Bhutan’s Healthcare Costing Analysis. Their outcomes underscore Bhutan’s robust foundation for dispensing quality PHC services.
Highlighting the significance of these findings, Health Minister Tandin Wangchuk emphasized the SDI survey’s role in offering invaluable insights into healthcare service quality, synchronizing with the objectives of the 13th Five-Year Plan.
Minister Wangchuk further elaborated on the significance of PHCPI, emphasizing its potential to provide comprehensive insights into Bhutan’s PHC landscape, serving as a pivotal baseline for monitoring progress.
Moreover, the Bhutan Healthcare Costing Analysis is poised to play a crucial role in devising sustainable health financing strategies, aligning with the constitutional mandate of delivering free basic health services.
Bhutan’s distinction as the first South Asian nation to undertake a comprehensive suite of internationally recognized and standardized PHC assessments underscores its commitment to innovation and accountability in healthcare.
This pioneering endeavor not only positions Bhutan as a leader in the region but also promises to furnish policymakers with timely and actionable evidence to drive meaningful impact on healthcare delivery and population health outcomes.
