Stories from Thimphu · Bhutan

Introduced in 1974 to replace the Bhutanese Rupee, the Ngultrum is significantly lower in value than the US Dollar. The currency's name, Dzongkha Ngultrum, translates to 'silver money'.

Bhutan's neonatal mortality rate has dropped from 19% to below 5%. This improvement follows the deployment of 84 portable fetal monitoring devices to healthcare workers in remote areas.

The Bhutanese government has deployed compact fetal monitoring devices known as ICTG in rural regions. Data from the sensors is transmitted directly to smartphones or tablets for real-time physician review. The technology is designed to be portable for use in rural clinics or patient homes. The integration of these devices into electronic health record systems aims to enhance monitoring and care in rural areas. This solution is intended to reduce mortality rates for mothers and newborns while narrowing the healthcare access gap between regions. Sonam Giamso, 80 devices are currently operational in hospitals and local medical centers, while four are used for training and education. The deployment aims to support medical staff following a shortage of obstetricians. Giamso stated the new equipment provides effective support for monitoring patients.