Cancer patients in Bhutan will now increasingly be referred to hospitals in Guwahati, India, marking a major shift in the country’s medical referral system aimed at improving access to timely treatment and reducing the burden on patients and their families.
The new arrangement comes after recent improvements in cancer treatment facilities in Guwahati and is expected to significantly shorten travel time for patients who previously had to journey to distant cities such as Kolkata and Vellore for treatment.
To support the transition, the national referral hospital, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, has also established a health liaison office in Guwahati. The office is expected to strengthen coordination between hospitals, assist patients with referrals, and ensure smoother communication and support services.
Hospital officials said four cancer patients are expected to travel to Guwahati this week under the new referral arrangement — the first group to do so since the initiative was introduced.
Medical Director Dr Phub Tshering said the hospital had previously referred only emergency cases to Guwahati, but selected cancer patients are now also being sent there for treatment.
According to him, the move follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Assam Cancer Care Foundation.
He explained that while Guwahati will handle selected cancer cases requiring relatively straightforward treatment, patients needing more advanced or comprehensive care will continue to be referred to hospitals in Kolkata and Vellore.
Until now, emergency referrals to Guwahati had largely been coordinated from Samdrup Jongkhar, a process officials described as difficult and logistically demanding.
Hospital records show that nearly 240 emergency patients were referred to Guwahati over the past two fiscal years. With referral numbers expected to rise further, especially among cancer patients, officials said a dedicated liaison office became necessary.
Dr Phub Tshering noted that the number of patients being referred to Guwahati is likely to increase steadily, particularly those requiring standard cancer treatment procedures. He said the new office would help streamline referrals and improve patient support throughout the treatment process.
Health officials say the initiative represents an important step toward strengthening cancer care services in Bhutan by helping patients access treatment more quickly and closer to home, while also easing emotional and financial pressures on families.
