Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay today inaugurated a special meeting organised by the Department of Health, Central Tibetan Administration, to improve and strengthen the overall public health services, disease prevention and hospital administration of the Tibetan community.

The special meeting on health is being held at the Tibetan Reception Center from 16 – 18 May. Health Kalon Dr Tsering Wangchuk along with 129 Tibetan doctors, hospital administrators and health staff from all over India are attending the meeting.

The meeting is a part of the Kashag’s effort to revitalise Tibetan preventive healthcare following His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s public rebuke on the deteriorating situation of Tibetan public health on 23 March 2016.

In his inaugural remarks at the meeting, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay spoke about the aims and objectives of the special meeting and the areas where there is a strong need for improvement.

“As invited by the health department, you all are gathered here today to deliberate on how to improve the overall Tibetan healthcare. I hope you will utilise your experience and knowledge of the issue to strengthen Tibetan public health which is the need of the hour,” Sikyong said.

Sikyong further explained His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s serious concern on matters related to Tibetan public health. “I went to welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Gaggal airport yesterday. At that time, I informed His Holiness about this special meeting. He expressed his appreciation and told me that he noticed lot of chronic patients in the settlements and the monasteries. He said that these are a result of neglect towards preventive healthcare and advised me to work on these issues,” Sikyong added.

Sikyong also spoke about the Kashag’s emphasis on public welfare and healthcare, and promised to work wholeheartedly to uplift the poorer section of the Tibetan community and for the development of Tibetan public health.

The three-day meeting will deliberate on seven agendas related to Tibetan public health and formulate a list of recommendation. The recommendations proposed by the special meeting will be submitted to the Kashag, which will implement it in earnest, through the department of health and its branch offices and clinics.