During the question hour session in the National Assembly yesterday, Health Minister Dechen Wangmo said the attrition rate in the health sector is concerning but not alarming. Currently standing at four per cent, the minister said the attrition rate would only be considered alarming if it surpasses ten per cent. Bartsham-Shongphu MP Passang Dorji questioned the minister about the government’s plan to ensure the delivery of health services without being compromised by the attrition rate.
According to the health ministry’s official data, more than one thousand people in the health sector resigned in the last seven years.
The ministry’s records show that the attrition rate of clinical employees was at 4.11 per cent last year.
“If we are to look at our country’s health sector attrition rate and look at the international literature, we only have to worry when the attrition rate reaches ten per cent. However, there are challenges at the national referral hospital where we only have one specialist in every department, such as one neurologist, one oncologist, one onco-surgeon and one ICU specialist. These shortages hamper service delivery.”
To address the attrition problem, the health ministry is exploring various approaches. These include reallocating health professionals based on patient numbers and commencing the country’s first MBBS programme this September.
“Currently, there are no such plans and policies that focus on the improvement of the health sector aligning with the need for new services in the 21st century. However, we have developed a document outlining requirements and plans for the next ten years.
The minister also emphasised the need for additional incentives for health professionals as a means to address the attrition problem.
Tashi Dekar
Edited by Sonam Pem
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