Community Health

The Department of Anesthesiology at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital plays a central role in providing comprehensive perioperative care, critical care services, pain management, medical education, and research. Our team of anesthesiologists, trainees, and healthcare professionals works together to ensure the highest standards of patient safety and comfort throughout the surgical journey.

In addition to providing anesthesia services, the department is actively involved in the management of acute and chronic pain, intensive care medicine, and the training of future anesthesiologists and anesthesia technicians. We also serve as the national referral center for anesthesia services and contribute significantly to the development of anesthesia care across Bhutan.

Our Mission

To provide safe, equitable, and patient-focused anesthesia care through evidence-based practice, multidisciplinary collaboration, and modern technology. We are dedicated to continuous professional development, research, and education, ensuring the training of highly competent anesthesia professionals while contributing to Bhutan’s healthcare goals. Through compassion, respect, and integrity, we strive to deliver exceptional care tailored to the needs of every patient.

Our Vision

To become a leading center of excellence in anesthesia and perioperative medicine within the region by delivering innovative, compassionate, and safe patient care while advancing education, research, and clinical practice.

Our Core Values

Patient-Centered Compassion

We treat every patient with empathy, dignity, and respect, recognizing and responding to their individual physical, emotional, and cultural needs.

Clinical Excellence and Safety

We maintain the highest standards of anesthesia practice through evidence-based medicine, robust safety measures, and continuous quality improvement.

Collaborative Teamwork

We value open communication, mutual respect, and multidisciplinary cooperation to provide seamless perioperative care and support successful surgical outcomes.

Equity and Accessibility

We are committed to ensuring all patients receive timely, inclusive, and equitable anesthesia care regardless of their background or circumstances.

Integrity and Accountability

We uphold ethical principles, transparency, and professionalism while remaining accountable to our patients, colleagues, and the wider community.

Innovation and Lifelong Learning

We encourage innovation, embrace advancements in medical technology, and promote a culture of continuous learning, education, and professional growth.

History of Anesthesia Services in Bhutan

Anesthesia services in Bhutan began in the late 1970s and early 1980s at Thimphu General Hospital under Dr. G.C. Sharma from Assam, who transferred to Trashigang Hospital in 1983, leaving Dr. Sarkar to continue the service until UN Volunteer anesthetist Dr. Phone Kyaw took over in 1984. A major milestone occurred in 1983 when Dr. Yanki Shipmo joined Thimphu General Hospital and founded Bhutan’s first Nurse Anesthetist Training Program to address severe staff shortages. In February 1988, Mr. Singye and Mr. Lungten Jamtsho became the first Bhutanese nurses selected for this specialized track; after six months of rigorous training, they provided autonomous anesthesia services at Gelephu General Hospital and Tsimalakha Hospital, laying the groundwork for a system that now includes over 30 nurse anesthetists nationwide.

In early 1998, Bhutan’s first nationally qualified anesthesiologist returned to work at JDWNRH, served at the Military Hospital in Dewathang during security difficulties, and officially entered civil service in January 1999. Later that year, Dr. Singay Dorji became the first Head of the Department of Anesthesiology, where he upgraded clinical services, drugs, and equipment, and established JDWNRH’s first three-bed intensive care unit (ICU).

Dr. Gosar Pemba succeeded him as department head from 2009 to 2014, modernizing services and helping establish Bhutan’s anesthesia residency training program before becoming JDWNRH’s Medical Superintendent, at which point Dr. Jampel Tshering took over leadership. Ultimately, Bhutan’s anesthesia services have evolved from simple open-drop ether methods into a modern system featuring advanced anesthesia workstations, sophisticated monitoring, advanced critical care, labor analgesia, comprehensive pain management clinics, and ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia.

Anesthesia Services

Our department provides a comprehensive range of anesthesia and perioperative services, including:

Pre-anesthesia assessment and patient optimization

Intraoperative anesthesia management

Postoperative recovery and pain management

Sedation services for procedures performed outside the operating room

Labor analgesia for pain relief during childbirth

Acute pain management

Chronic pain management services

Intensive care and critical care medicine services

Anesthesia Residency Program

Conducted in collaboration with the Postgraduate Medical Education Program under Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan.

Anesthesia Technician Training

A diploma program conducted in partnership with the Faculty of Nursing and Public Health to develop skilled anesthesia technicians for the national healthcare system.

Vision

Deliver state-of-the-art anesthesia services in perioperative care, pain and palliative care, and critical care.
Achieve self-sufficiency in anesthesia service providers within the country.
Develop and train anesthesia service providers through residency programs and BSc Nurse Anesthesia training.

Mission

Provide state-of-the-art patient care in preoperative evaluation, intra-operative anesthesia, post-operative care, Intensive Care Unit, and pain management.
Offer high-quality education for postgraduate residency in Anesthesia and BSc Nurse Anesthesia under the postgraduate medical education center of JDWNRH.
Contribute to the science of Anesthesiology through basic and clinical science programs and advance clinical practice.

Our Values

To fulfill our mission and vision, we focus on the following pillars of our specialty:

Healing: Deliver the highest quality of perioperative clinical care in ORs, ICUs, and clinics.
Teaching: Develop anesthesia service providers through residency training, BSc Nurse Anesthesia, and anesthesia assistant training, dedicating ourselves to excellence in education.
Caring: Foster an environment valuing professionalism, compassion, collegiality, teamwork, and collaboration while emphasizing patient safety and continuous performance improvement.

Areas of Services Provided by Anesthesia Department

Anesthesia Services
Intensive Care Unit
Pain & Palliative Care (Pain Clinic on Fridays)
Sedation Services to CT/MRI, Psychiatry, endoscopies
ACLs and BLS in other unit

Organogram

Anaesthesia Services Overview (2017)

In early 2017, we addressed the acute shortage of anesthesia service providers by recruiting two Burmese anesthetists and welcoming Dr. Garry from the USA to volunteer in the ICU.

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