Preserving and advancing Bhutan's ancient Healing Traditions for the well-being of our nation
To provide safe, effective, reliable, accessible, and patient‑centered clinical services that uphold the highest standards of care.
To provide safe, effective, reliable, accessible, and patient‑centered clinical services that uphold the highest standards of care.
Compassion & Holistic Care, Integrity & Ethical Conduct, Quality & Excellence, Integration & Collaboration, Innovation & Research.
A journey spanning centuries — from ancient manuscripts to modern healthcare
The Medicine Buddha taught medicine through his Twelve Great Vows, emphasizing healing of both body and mind. These teachings belong to the Third Turning of the Dharma Wheel, making them central to Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions, and profoundly influential in Bhutan’s traditional medical system.
In the 8th century, Bhutan’s Traditional medicine traces its origins through the arrival of Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), who introduced Buddhism and its healing philosophy to the Himalayan region. His teachings emphasized that spiritual practice and physical well-being are interconnected, forming the foundation for the Sowa Rigpa system, the “Science of Healing.”
With the arrival of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in Bhutan in 1616, Sowa Rigpa became firmly established as an organized healing tradition. Tenzing Drukda, a respected physician and Zhabdrung’s closed disciple, helped spread and teach its knowledge. Traditional medicine flourished in monastic institutions, where healing knowledge was passed from teacher to student, laying the foundation for Bhutan’s distinctive Sowa Rigpa tradition.
In 1967, His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the Third King of Bhutan, commanded the establishment of Traditional Medicine Services to preserve Bhutan’s rich healing heritage and make Sowa Rigpa accessible to the people. This marked an important turning point, bringing traditional medicine into the national health system. The following year, an Indigenous Dispensary was opened at Dechencholing, Thimphu, laying the foundation for the development of Bhutan’s modern traditional medicine services
The 1990s marked an important period of growth for the Traditional Medicine of Bhutan. Training was strengthened, research into medicinal plants expanded, and facilities for the production and study of traditional medicines were developed. In 1998, the National Institute of Traditional Medicine was upgraded into the Institute of Traditional Medicine Services, bringing together training, research, pharmaceutical development, and the National Traditional Medicine Hospital under one system.
The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan, adopted in 2008, formally affirmed the State’s responsibility to provide access to both modern and traditional healthcare. Article 9, Section 21 states: “The State shall provide free access to basic public health services in both modern and traditional medicines.” This constitutional provision strengthened the place of traditional medicine within Bhutan’s national healthcare system.
Today, the National Traditional Medicine Hospital continues to preserve Bhutan’s rich Sowa Rigpa heritage while responding to the changing needs of modern healthcare. Through research, education, international collaboration, and the continued practice of traditional healing, NTMH is working to strengthen its services and share Bhutan’s unique medical tradition with the wider world.
Our multifaceted commitment to Bhutan’s healing heritage
Conducting clinical research, case studies, and trial investigations to validate traditional treatments, document efficacy, and integrate findings into evidence‑based practice guidelines.
To provide safe, effective, reliable, accessible, and patient‑centered clinical services that uphold the highest standards of care.
NTMH ensures quality Traditional medicine services by standardizing safe practices, training practitioners, and monitoring patient outcomes to maintain trusted care.
Offering structured CME training programs for aspiring Drungtshos, Menpas and others, ensuring the transmission of Traditional knowledge to future generations.
Working with the NCTMS and Ministry of Health to develop policies that integrate traditional medicine into Bhutan’s national health system alongside modern healthcare.
Traditional Medicine and allopathic medicine collaborate through a cross‑referral system, with TM directing critical cases to advanced care and allopathy referring patients needing TM services for holistic management.
Our commitments guide how we deliver care, strengthen clinical practice, advance knowledge, and preserve Bhutan’s traditional medicine heritage.
