WÒRDS FÒR YÒU

In a landmark move to enhance medical services and improve patient care, Bhutan has announced the introduction of private and foreign investments in its healthcare sector. The new regulatory framework, titled The Healthcare Services Rules and Regulations 2025 , was unveiled yesterday by the Ministry of Health. This initiative aims to expand healthcare infrastructure while maintaining strict oversight to ensure quality and compliance. The framework outlines a comprehensive licensing system for private healthcare centers, categorizing facilities into nine distinct types: Super-specialty hospitals, multi-disciplinary hospitals, traditional medicine hospitals, general hospitals, primary healthcare centers, diagnostic centers, allied healthcare centers, clinics, and other services. Each category will be subject to rigorous evaluation and approval by the Ministry of Health, ensuring that all facilities meet national standards. Licensing and Compliance Under the new rules, healthcare provider...

In a bold declaration that challenges China's claims over Tibetan Buddhist succession, the Dalai Lama has stated that his reincarnation will be born in the "free world," outside of Chinese control. This announcement, made in his newly released book, Voice for the Voiceless, marks a significant escalation in the long-standing dispute over the future of Tibetan Buddhism and the Dalai Lama lineage. The statement, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan Uprising, underscores the Dalai Lama's commitment to preserving Tibetan culture and the spiritual mission of his lineage, free from Chinese interference. "The reincarnation will occur in the free world, where the values of compassion and cultural preservation flourish without oppression," the Dalai Lama wrote, directly rejecting Beijing's assertion that it holds the authority to approve his successor. China has long maintained that the selection of the Dalai Lama's successor...

In a significant move to safeguard Bhutan’s cultural and spiritual heritage, the Deputy Chief of Police (DCoP) of the Crime and Operations Department delivered a detailed presentation on “Lhakhang and Chorten Vandalism” to senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) on 12 March. The high-level meeting, graced by His Excellency Lyonpo Tshering, Minister of Home Affairs, brought together key stakeholders to address the growing concerns over the protection of the nation’s sacred religious sites.   The session was attended by prominent figures, including the Secretary of the Dratshang Lhentshog, the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Director Generals of the Department of Local Governance and the Department of Law and Order, the Director of the Department of Culture and Dzong Development (DoCDD), representatives from the Dratsang Tensung team, and senior officers from the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP).   The presentation highlighted the urgent...