The Royal Government of Bhutan recognises the value that ICT can bring towards achieving
Gross National Happiness. The government has accorded high priority to ICT and it continues
to do so. The constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan ensures free basic health care to its
citizens.
To continue funding free basic public health care, Ministry of Health (MOH) must find new
initiatives to curb wastages and deliver care more efficiently. At the same time, MOH must fulfil
the aspirations of a more informed population in providing quality health care service.
In order to provide quality, free and sustainable health care services, the MoH must explore new
initiatives and ICT is one such solution. The eHealth Strategy and Action Plan seeks to deliver/
take health care services closer to the citizen at their doorstep. It aims to provide accessible,
convenient and cost-effective health care services to the citizen.
The eHealth Strategy and Action Plan is in line with the overall objectives and programme of the
12th Five Year Plan and with the e-Gov policy of the Ministry of Information and Communications.
The programmes and projects in the eHealth Strategy and Action Plan are holistic and coherent
covering all aspect of health care system.
The eHealth Strategy and Action Plan are ambitious documents like any other plan and therefore
requires strong governance and management commitment, user support and collective effort
of all the stakeholders. It is also important to note that there are several critical success factors
that we should be mindful of while implementing the eHealth Strategy and Action Plan.