The Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Bhutan signed a Grant Agreement for the...

The Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Bhutan signed a Grant Agreement for the project to construct the Royal Centre for Infectious Diseases (RCID) in Gidakom Hospital. The project includes the procurement of medical equipment for the Centre. The total amount for the project is two billion nine hundred and ninety-four million Japanese Yen (JPY 2,994,000,000) which is approximately Ngultrum 1.7 billion.

The Grant Agreement was signed in presence of Hon'ble Health Minister Dasho Dechen Wangmo, Executives from the Ministry of Health and officials from JICA Bhutan. The signing was preceded by the signing of Exchange of Note between the Royal Bhutanese Embassy and the Embassy of Japan, New Delhi, on 22nd September 2022.

An initiative of Her Excellency Dasho Dechen Wangmo, the Centre will be a Centre for Excellence for providing high-quality services focused on preventing and managing infectious diseases, emerging infectious diseases, and unforeseen pandemics like COVID-19.

The Centre is named as Royal Centre for Infectious Diseases (RCID), a testament to blessings and commitment from the highest level to uphold the health and safety of every Bhutanese in the country. The Centre will have state-of-art facilities and comprehensive clinical and public health capabilities in infectious diseases prevention, control and management. It is envisaged to play a lead role nationally and regionally in protecting the health of Bhutanese and beyond.