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The Institute of Traditional Medicine Services (ITMS) was
established in 1967 as Indigenous Unit under the Department of Health
Services by opening one Indigenous Dispensary in Dechencholing.
The main function of the Indigenous Unit was to develop traditional medical
services in the country. In 1971 the training of Menpa
(compounder) was started as on-the-job training to
assist the only two Drungtshos (Physicians) working
at the Dispensary. The Drungtshos were Pema Dorji and Sherub Jorden who have
completed their training in Traditional Medicine from Tibet. Both
of them are now retired from the service. The training program for Drungthso was started in 1978 with the appointment of the
late Ladak Amji as
Principal in Dechencholing Dispensary. In 1979 the
Indigenous Dispensary was upgraded as the National Indigenous
Hospital and the
Training Centre as the National Institute of Traditional Medicine and was
shifted to the present site in Kawang Jangsa. The Pharmaceutical and Research Unit was
established in 1998 with the assistance of the European Union (EU)
From a single Dispensary in 1967, the ITMS has grown
rapidly and has become a multi functional organization under the Department
of Health Services. All 20 districts now have Indigenous Units attached to
the district hospitals. At the national level the Institute currently has
three sections as follows:
1. Traditional
Medical Hospital
2. National
Institute of Traditional Medicine
3. Pharmaceutical
and Research Unit
The main aims and objectives of ITMS are to:
a) Promote traditional system of medicine in the
country
b) Preserve the unique culture and tradition
related medical practice
c) Provide alternative medicine as complementary
to the allopathic system
d) Produce medicines required by the traditional
medical system
e) Conduct research and quality control of drugs
f) Develop human resources required for the
traditional medical system
g) Achieve excellence in traditional medical
services in Bhutan.
Brief Historical
Background
Tenzin Drugyal
who was the personal physician to Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in the 16th
century AD established the traditional medical system in Bhutan. Since there was abundance
of medicinal plants in Bhutan
the country was known as Menjong Gyalkhab, which means the land of medicinal plants. This
ancient principle and practice of healing was passed on as an oral tradition
to younger generation till the system was formalised
under the national health system of Bhutan in 1967.
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