Health Department Appoints New Resident Medical Officer at Bir/Chauntra

Dr. Tenzin Norsang
Dr. Tenzin Norsang

The Department of Health (DOH), Central Tibetan Administration formally appoints Dr. Tenzin Norsang, MBBS Graduate from, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda-Kangra, as the new medical officer of Tibetan primary health centre at Bir from 20 May 2016

He will first work at Delek Hospital, Dharamshala for one month before he joins Tibetan primary health centre at Bir

The primary health center at Bir provides medical and public health services to Tibetan settlements, schools and monasteries at Bir and Chauntra, viz. Bir Tibetan Society, Nangchen Division and Dege Division.

In 2012, There were 7 doctors (two at Delek hospital; and Five at other hospitals under CTA and TVHA) catering to the services of the Tibetan public at our various hospitals and branch clinics in India. However, In August 1 2015, there are 16 doctors which are more than double that of 2012.
As of now, there are 12 doctors working at hospitals under the CTA and TVHA which are almost double that of 2012.
After serving two to almost seven years, four doctors (One from Mundgod, Two from Delek hospital and One from Bir) had resigned in between August 2015 and May 2016 for further studies; and future career and life.
The CTA DOH still urgently looks for resident Tibetan MBBS doctors in its hospitals and health centres at Miao, Ladakh, Bhandara, Mundgod, Hunsur, Pokhara(Nepal) and Bylakuppe.

Under the Tibetan Health System Capacity Strengthening and Global Fund TB prevention Project being funded by USAID via Tibet Fund and Central TB division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India respectively, CTA Health department will appoint more resident and visiting doctors including specialist doctors at each health centers of Tibetan settlement Health centers in India and Nepal in coming months.

The Kashag has approved reduction of obligatory service duration of CTA’s MBBS reserve seat bond from three years to two years for Tibetan doctors willing to work in remote settlements like Miao, Odisha, Mainpat, Ladakh, Bhandara, with effect from 21 July 2014.

The Department of Health, CTA administers finances and provides medical and public health service of Tibetans in exile in India, Nepal and Bhutan through a network of 7 hospitals, 43 primary health care centers and small clinics and Ngoenga School for Tibetan children with special needs at Dehradun, northern India.

At present, There are altogether about Twelve Tibetan MBBS Doctors (from USA, Mundgod, Nepal, Manali, Dharamsala, Kollegal, Chauntra, and Bylakupe ) who have due to oblige with CTA DOH’s MBBS bond to provide their three years services to the Tibetan community under the CTA DOH. Out of them, some had served part of three years bond service.

Health Kalon, Dr. Tsering Wangchuk strongly urges them to come back to work with sense of moral duty for at least three years’ service in Tibetan settlements and as per the terms and condition of bond they signed with CTA DOH and DOE.

There are also about 17 Tibetan medical students and interns studying in Indian Medical colleges at Bikaner, Shimla, Kangra and Kolkata who have signed the MBBS bond of Central Tibetan Administration with CTA health department and education department with the commitment to give three years services to the Tibetan community after completion of MBBS doctor study and internship.

To retain the serving doctors, CTA Department of health will also explore further to get reserved MD/ DNB / Diploma seats in India and aboard; and reserve Tibetan scholarship Program placement on Master in Public Health and other health related degree course for serving Tibetan resident doctors in Nepal and India.