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FORMED in 1946 as one of the specialized agencies within
the United Nations family, WHO's tasks were to
direct and coordinate international health development. The South-East Asia
Regional Office (SEARO) is one of its six regional offices and currently has
ten Member countries including Bhutan.
Although Bhutan
formally joined WHO only on 8 March 1982, it had been participating in WHO
activities much earlier. The most significant event in which Bhutan
became a participant was the International Conference on Primary Health Care,
Alma Ata, 6-12 September 1978. Bhutan
formally adopted in 1979 the Declaration of Alma Ata as its core thrust in
the development of modern health services.
Within the context of 'Health For All,' Bhutan joined
WHO to seek its support and technical guidance to develop and promote a
modern health care system in the country.
It was during the tenure of Dr U Ko
Ko as the Regional Director of SEARO that the basic
agreement between WHO and the Government of Bhutan was concluded. All formalities
were completed by early 1983 and the (1982/1983) biennium began with just two
programmes and a budgetary input of approximately
US $ 258 470. Since then, the progress of collaboration has been rapid, and
by the 1998/1999 biennium, the number of programmes
had reached twenty with a budget exceeding US $ 2 million.
In the beginning the WHO Office in Thimphu was coordinated by a Public Health
Administrator, Dr M.Saifullah. It took about two
years to fully establish the WHO office on a firm footing. Dr B.A. kawengian became the first World Health Organization
Representative (WR) in 1989, followed by Dr Kan Tun
in 1994. The latter continued as WR till March 1998.
For WHO, Bhutan
was a challenge and an opportunity. It was a difficult country given its
rugged topography and scattered population. Further, at the time of
initiation of cooperation, the communication infrastructure was still
rudimentary with many of the districts still connected only by mule-tracts.
And here was a country that had suddenly emerged into the twentieth century
from its rustic hinterland without any major established modern health
infrastructure. The challenge was truly daunting the opportunities unlimited.
The characteristics of WHO cooperation in Bhutan
Some of the basic characteristics that underscored the
process of WHO- RGoB Cooperation right from the
inception of collaboration are:
 That WHO adhered strongly to the RGoB's policies and strategies on international assistance.
That all programmes
and activities were directed towards the RGoB's
cherished goals of self-sustain-ability and self-reliance.
That support was seen to complement and not
support the Government's own efforts.
That the priorities and pace of development
were always the responsibility of the Government.
That technical assistant was geared towards
national capacity enhancement and technology transfer.
That WHO funds were used to bridge the unmet
needs and without duplication of efforts through careful joint planning
exercises.
That the support was more for short-term staff
as opposed to long-term staff.
That there has been optimal cooperation and
collaboration between WHO and RGoB in all aspects
of the implementation of WHO assistance to the country.
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