Inauguration of the National Center for Traditional Medicine Services, Launch of the National Traditional Medicine Strategy and Action Plan (2025–2034), and Signing of Grant Agreement between the Ministry of Health and the Bhutan Foundation
On 28 November 2025, the Ministry of Health marked a significant milestone for Bhutan’s Traditional Medicine System with the formal inauguration of the National Center for Traditional Medicine Services (NCTMS), the launch of the National Traditional Medicine Strategy and Action Plan (2025–2034), and the signing of a major Grant Agreement between the Ministry of Health and the Bhutan Foundation.
Developed by the Department of Health Services under the Ministry of Health through an extensive and inclusive consultation process, the ten-year Strategy set out a comprehensive roadmap to strengthen and modernize Bhutanese Traditional Medicine (BTM). It aimed to position BTM as a viable and sustainable response to contemporary health challenges while preserving Bhutan’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage, with support from the Bhutan Foundation.
The Strategy envisioned integrating traditional wisdom with modern innovation by leveraging rigorous research and advanced technologies to enhance the efficacy, safety, and accessibility of traditional medicine services. It also sought to create economic and employment opportunities through the sustainable management of herbal resources, the promotion of wellness tourism, and the strengthening of Bhutan’s service and wellness industries.
To support implementation of the Action Plan, the Bhutan Foundation and the Ministry of Health signed a Grant Agreement amounting to Nu. 44 million (USD 0.5 million) over three years. The ten-year Action Plan provides a comprehensive roadmap to modernize and advance Bhutanese Traditional Medicine (BTM) through research, innovation, sustainable resource management, and improved access to services.
The grant support will focus on:
- Strengthening awareness and credibility of BTM
- Integrating traditional and modern healthcare systems
- Advancing research and innovation
- Ensuring sustainability of medicinal resources
- Building professional capacity and global partnerships
Through this partnership, efforts also focused on professional development and on building both local and global collaborations to position Bhutan as a center of excellence for traditional medicine and holistic wellness.
The event also marked the operational launch of the National Center for Traditional Medicine Services, representing a major institutional transformation designed to enhance clinical services, research, education, and wellness promotion under a centralized national institution.
