Bhutan

Program focus: Peer-to-peer training, clinical consults

Bhutan is a small country in the Himalayas known as the “Land of the Thunder Dragon”. Despite universal health coverage and a wide network of health facilities, Bhutan faces a physician shortage, with only 0.6 physicians per 1,000 people (World Health Organization). Gaps remain in areas such as advanced diagnostics, cancer screening, and mental health care. Because of the rugged terrain, it can be challenging for patients to travel across the country for the care they need.

World Telehealth Initiative’s program addresses these challenges by expanding access to subspecialty care at Central Regional Referral Hospital (CRRH) in Gelephu, Bhutan. CRRH is one of the country’s oldest hospitals and serves the second-largest patient load, providing care to thousands of families across southern Bhutan.

Upon the successful completion of a WTI Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) training for 10 learners, CRRH requested the valuable curriculum for a second cohort of learners. The program equips local clinicians with portable probes and hands-on mentorship from international experts. With new skills in echocardiography, abdominal scans, and other applications, providers can deliver more accurate diagnoses and timely care.

In addition to CRRH, WTI also supports Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in the capital, and Eastern Regional Referral Hospital in Mongar—building capacity in key specialties and reducing referrals to the overburdened hospital in Thimphu.