BBSCL

Reports maintained with the Royal Bhutan Police show an increase in the number of inmates seeking psychiatric services in the last two years. In 2023, Chamgang Central Prison in Thimphu recorded eight inmates requiring psychiatric care. The number rose to 16 last year, with four cases recorded this year to date. While the country’s prisons lack dedicated mental health centres...

Bhutan has faced several zoonotic diseases, including COVID-19 and recurring outbreaks of avian, swine flu, and rabies, all of which have significantly impacted both animal and human health. To combat these, the Bhutan One Health Strategy was first launched in 2016, with a secretariat at the Royal Centre for Disease Control established in 2020. As the second edition of the...

Bhutan has started its first-ever airborne mineral exploration with the arrival of two specialised helicopters. The initiative aims to map the country's mineral resources, an undertaking that the Department of Geology and Mines says is long overdue. Unlike previous studies focused on industrial minerals such as dolomite, gypsum, and limestone, this exploration aims to uncover precious and base metals that...

The Royal Audit Authority’s review report on the Local Government Development Grant found that most local government funds are being allocated to farm roads and Lhakhang development. The report states that key sectors such as education, health, and livestock are given the least priority. The 2024 Annual Grant Guideline prioritises projects with economic and social benefits that will boost local...