In the third round of the Question Hour session for Ministers in Group B, four questions were tabled for oral responses and one question for written response. Two oral questions were directed to the Minister for Health and one each to the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, and the Minister for Education and Skills Development. One written question was addressed to the Minister for Education and Skills Development.

The Member from Khatoed-Laya Constituency questioned the Minister for Health regarding the lack of health workers in the Lungo Extended Basic Health Unit (BHU) in Gasa. He noted that, unlike the Laya BHU-which has two health assistants, Lungo BHU has no staff, putting residents at serious health risk. While acknowledging the national shortage of health workers, he urged the Ministry to prioritize deployment in remote and high-risk areas like Lungo and asked the Minister on plans for deployment of  health personnel there.

The Minister stated Lungo has 63 households with 147 residents, and a Sub-post BHU was set up to avoid the three-hour travel to health services. He informed that while the infrastructure is almost ready, and electricity will be fully connected within this month. After that, one male health worker will be deployed, and the BHU is expected to be fully functional within the year.

Laya BHU, due to its remoteness, is already being used as a Primary Health Care Centre with five beds. Currently, male health workers provide services. To improve it, the Ministry plans to send a doctor, three more health staff, a lab technician, and a dental hygienist. X-ray and ultrasound services are also planned for the BHU. Although facilities are ready, there is still a shortage of health workers, and the Ministry is working on addressing this.

The Member from Lingmukha-Toedwang Constituency also directed a question to the Minister for Health, expressing concern over acute health staff shortages at the Samdingkha BHU in Punakha. The BHU, which serves multiple Gewogs and a significant number of visitors to Chubu Tsachu, is reportedly operating without adequate staff and lacks an ambulance. The Member sought clarity on whether the Ministry has any plans to provide additional human resources and improve emergency health services in the area.

In response, the Minister for Health acknowledged the issues raised by the Member. The Minister stated that Samdingkha PHCC currently has two male health workers (HA), one traditional medicine practitioner, and one caretaker, and receives an average of 25 patients per day. According to the ministry, the existing staff is adequate to serve this number of patients. However, the Minister informed the House that the Ministry will carry out necessary monitoring, surveys, and research to assess the actual needs of Samdingkha BHU. As people from surrounding areas and multiple gewogs also visit Chuba Tsachu, the Ministry will take the necessary steps to ensure equitable health services for all. With regard to the ambulance, the Punakha Dzongkhag currently has three and providing additional ambulance in Samdingkha, the Minister said that it has to be looked accordingly to the case load of the patients and the ministry will be carrying out the necessary study and look at ways whether to re-deploy the existing ambulance or need of additional ambulances. 

The Member from Dophuchen-Tading Constituency asked the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock on the drastic decline in citrus production in Samtse Dzongkhag. Once a top citrus-producing region, exports have plummeted from over 500 truckloads to just 18 in recent years. The Member enquired whether the Ministry has conducted study into the causes of this decline and what plans are in place to revive citrus cultivation in agro-climatically suitable areas.

The Minister for Agriculture and Livestock stated that citrus, a key contributor to Bhutan’s economy, has seen a sharp decline in production since the 2000s. Research by the Ministry identified Citrus Greening Disease (HLB) and aging trees as primary causes. In response, the Ministry has introduced climate-resilient seedlings and is supporting growers through initiatives like the BRECSA project in Sarpang, Trongsa, Tsirang, and Zhemgang. The Minister assured that the Ministry will continue to study,  monitor  and support the improvement and sustenance of  citrus production.

The Member from Bomdeling-Jamkhar Constituency sought clarification from  the Minister for Education and Skills Development on the nationwide school rationalization initiative under the 13th Five Year Plan. He inquired about the number of schools planned for consolidation, the implementation timeline, and the criteria used to decide which schools will be merged or upgraded, particularly in the context of declining student enrollment and changing demographics.

In response, the Minister for Education and Skills Development explained that the school rationalization initiative is being carried out due to declining birth rates, especially in rural areas, leading to under-enrollment and underutilized schools. Between 2022 and 2025, 22 Extended Classrooms (ECRs) and 9 small primary schools were closed as they were found to be educationally and financially unsustainable.

Under the 13th Five Year Plan, the Ministry aims to improve education quality by prioritizing resources on central and feeder schools, addressing teacher shortages, and optimizing the use of facilities. Schools will be considered for rationalization if ECRs have fewer than 20 students or small primary schools have fewer than 50. Schools in geo-politically sensitive areas will not be affected.

Rationalization will be implemented gradually, with public consultations and based on factors such as student numbers and school location. The Ministry also plans to provide transportation to ensure access to nearby boarding or central schools. The goal is to use resources efficiently and enhance education quality-not to reduce opportunities for students.