In the second round of Question Hour for the Ministers in Group B, five questions for oral responses and five questions for written responses were tabled in the House. Three oral and three written questions were directed to the Minister for Health (MoH), while two oral and one written questions were addressed to the Minister for Education and Skills Development (MoESD) and one question for written responses was addressed to the Minister for Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL). 

The Member from Lamgong-Wangchang questioned the Minister for Health on the long-overdue improvement and expansion of Paro Hospital. He pointed out that the hospital has not seen significant development in over two decades, despite an increasing patient load. Emphasizing its strategic importance, he noted that the hospital serves not only residents of Paro but also patients from all 20 Dzongkhags and international visitors, given its proximity to Bhutan’s only international airport and key institutions. He asked about the Ministry’s short and long-term plans to upgrade infrastructure and deploy specialist staff.

In response, the Health Minister acknowledged the importance of Paro Hospital and confirmed its inclusion in the Ministry’s development plans. He stated that monitoring and consultations have been completed, and the upgradation plans which are being developed in coordination with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport are in the final stages. The Minister informed that the infrastructure improvements will align with patient demand, including enhanced services like dialysis and operating theatres. Paro has also been identified as a location for one of the cluster hospitals, considering its strategic location and large population. The Minister expressed hope that these upgrades will improve healthcare delivery and reduce the patient load at the national referral hospital in Thimphu.

The Member from the Khamdang-Ramjar constituency questioned the Minister for Health on the rising attrition of health professionals, long waiting hours, and declining service quality at JDWNRH. Citing a 30% attrition rate at JDWNRH and reports of overstretched healthcare workers, he expressed concern that these trends are affecting patient care and hospital efficiency. He asked what immediate actions the Ministry is taking to curb staff attrition, reduce waiting time, and improve service quality.

The Health Minister acknowledged concerns over staff attrition, long waiting times, and declining service quality at JDWNRH. He stated that the Ministry is addressing these issues through several measures. A Career Pathway and Performance Management System is being developed in consultation with healthcare workers to support professional growth and has been submitted to Lhengye Zhungtshog. To address workforce shortages, the Ministry has introduced Extended Clinical Services, providing extra pay for weekends and off-hours duty. Recruitment of foreign healthcare professionals is ongoing, supported by a Nu. 300 million budget. The Ministry is also working with Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences to increase student intake. Additionally, to reduce patient load at JDWNRH, four Thromde Clinics and two clinics in Norzim Lam will be converted into filter clinics, allowing patients to access primary care without directly visiting the national hospital.

The Member from Wamrong questioned the Health Minister on the shortage of health workers and equipment at Riserboo Hospital. He noted that the 20-bedded hospital serves four gewogs and functions as a referral center for southern Trashigang. The hospital currently lacks one doctor, nine nurses, and six Health Assistants, with six BHUs in the Dzongkhag staffed by only one HA each. Referring to the government’s pledge to establish 10 specialist centers, including one at Riserboo, he asked when the pledge will be fulfilled, when the health worker shortage will be resolved, and when essential lab equipment will be provided to the hospital.

In response, the Minister for Health stated that the government is working on its pledge to establish 10 specialist centers, now referred to as Cluster Hospitals. The selection of districts for these hospitals is based on six key criteria: patient case load, catchment population, accessibility, technical assessment, contribution to national income, and balanced distribution of services. He informed the House that Pemagatshel is being considered in the second phase of the initiative. The Ministry is currently assessing whether Pemagatshel or Nganglam would be more suitable, based on the outlined criteria. Some cluster hospitals have already been initiated, and work under phase two is ongoing. Regarding Riserboo Hospital, the Minister clarified that Trashigang Hospital has been established as a specialist center. He acknowledged the shortage of health workers as a common issue across hospitals and assured that the Ministry is working to recruit and deploy additional personnel based on the specific needs of each facility.

The Member from the Dewathang-Gomdar constituency questioned the Minister for Education and Skills Development on the disparity in resource allocation between Central and non-Central Schools. While acknowledging the contributions of the Central School initiative since its launch in 2015, he expressed concern that non-central schools, particularly in remote areas, face significant infrastructure gaps and lack ICT equipment. He asked the Minister to clarify the rationale behind the funding gap and to share what measures are being taken to ensure equitable distribution of education funding.

In response, the Minister for Education and Skills Development stated that the establishment of Central Schools across the Dzongkhags is primarily aimed at supporting children from low-income families. Citing the Bhutan Poverty and Equity Assessment 2024 report, she noted that the national poverty rate declined from 28% in 2017 to 11.6% in 2022, which is a positive development. However, she highlighted that about 55% of the population still lives in rural areas, where 87% continue to face income-related challenges. To address these disparities, the Ministry has developed Central Schools in Dzongkhags to provide comprehensive facilities and access to quality education from Pre-Primary (PP) to Class 12. The Minister emphasized that the goal is to make Central Schools centers of academic excellence. At the same time, the Ministry remains committed to improving all schools, not just Central Schools. A budget of Nu.5.500 billion has been allocated to non-Central Schools across the 20 Dzongkhags and 4 Thromdes to support infrastructure development and essential facilities. To ensure quality and equity, the Ministry has also introduced the Common Minimum Facilities Standard, which will guide the provision of essential services and infrastructure across all schools in the country both Central and non-Central ensuring that every child has access to a conducive learning environment.

The Member from the Nganglam constituency questioned the Minister for Education and Skills Development on the policy of teacher placement in hometowns. He acknowledged the original intent of the policy to improve motivation and retention but noted emerging challenges, including teachers’ distraction from academic responsibilities due to domestic obligations. He asked whether the Ministry plans to review the policy and adopt a more balanced approach that ensures both teacher well-being and professional accountability. 

In response, the Minister for Education and Skills Development clarified that there is no official policy disallowing teachers to take vacation leave to their hometowns. She stated that in the past, such practices may have been permitted to improve teacher motivation, public engagement, or retention, but they are not part of the Ministry’s current policy. The Minister explained that teachers deployment and transfer is done through the Teacher Requirement Exercise (TRE), which considers the need, justification, and subject requirement before approval. She further stated that if such practices are found to have affected the quality of education delivery, the Ministry will take appropriate corrective measures. To address the underlying issues, the Minister acknowledged the lack of a proper management system and committed to strengthening monitoring, ensuring accountability, and improving overall performance management of teachers.