On the heels of burgeoning demand for advanced medical care, Bhutan’s Ministry of Health has announced that construction of the country’s inaugural Multi-Disciplinary Super-Speciality Hospital is slated to commence in March 2026. Poised to transform the domestic healthcare landscape, the facility will offer services—from organ transplantation and comprehensive cancer care to highly specialized diagnostics—that have hitherto required travel abroad.
A Vision Takes Shape
Under the master plan unveiled by health authorities, three new purpose-built blocks (highlighted in red on official renderings) will supplant existing structures on the site. These include:
- A 250-bed National Cancer Hospital dedicated to oncology services;
- A 400-bed In-Patient Diagnostic Block housing advanced imaging, pathology, and critical‐care wards;
- An Out-Patient Diagnostic Block designed to streamline day-procedure and outpatient services.
Meanwhile, the current national referral hospital will undergo refurbishment and be rebranded as Thimphu General Hospital, ensuring continuity of primary and secondary care.
Easing Pressure, Saving Lives
The super-speciality complex is expected to alleviate severe overcrowding at the existing referral facility, significantly widen access to life-saving treatments, and curb the nation’s reliance on overseas medical referrals. Health Minister Tandin Wangchuk emphasized that “the need for a new specialised hospital is inevitable,” noting that although the project was not originally part of the 13th Five-Year Plan, its strategic importance has galvanized government action.
Securing Expertise and Funding
With an estimated price tag of 8.9 billion ngultrum—fully financed by the Government of India—the project has entered its tendering phase. To date, the health ministry has solicited bids for the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR), which will determine whether existing blocks should be demolished or adapted for integration into the new complex. Three internationally renowned hospital-construction firms have been shortlisted in collaboration with the Indian Embassy, with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport slated to oversee the build once the DPR is finalized. Completion timelines remain contingent on this planning phase.
Addressing the Workforce Challenge
Recognizing that advanced facilities demand skilled manpower, the ministry plans an immediate recruitment drive for foreign specialists. Concurrently, Bhutanese experts currently stationed in lower-acuity regional hospitals will be redeployed to the new centre. Looking further ahead, the government will expand training programs for local physicians and increase nursing-student intake to build a sustainable, home-grown workforce.
A Royal Milestone
The hospital initiative was formally announced on February 21, 2025—coinciding with the birthday celebrations of His Majesty The King—symbolizing a royal endorsement of Bhutan’s commitment to elevating its healthcare standards. As the nation prepares to break ground next spring, the coming years promise a dramatic leap forward in medical capability and patient care on Bhutanese soil.
