Professor Jack in Mongar

Professor Jack, the Head of Overseas Pathology, USA, was in Mongar for a day. He visited the hospital and the laboratories in particular. At dinner yesterday evening, he met with the specialists of Mongar Hospital.

Professor Jack is said to have suplied laboratory equipment and LIS software worth millions of dollars to Bhutan. He has visited Bhutan several times and his assistance has benefitted almost all the hospital laboratories across the country.

Increasing OPD load

OPD attendance is getting higher day by day. I had to clear 60 odd OPD patients today- thats after doing a full ward around. The load at the general OPD was not less either.

Imagine you do a full ward round....then see 60 patients.....what quality of service can we provide?

Foreign doctors at MRRH

Two doctors- a hand surgeon and a orthopedic resident, are temporarily at MRRH working with the Orthopedic Unit. They are expected to be here for a period of three months.

Heat Returns to Mongar

Barely had we finished disconnecting and re-storing our bhukhari which had been on continous use for last four monhts, I note that its suddenly a scorching heat outside. A drastic change in temperature...call it global heating!

Eye Camp in Pemagatshel and Riserboo

A team of eye unit staff lead by Dr BB Rai, Ophthalmologist, left for Pemagatshel today for a week long eye camp in which they will be operating mainly cataract cases. A similar camp was recently completed in Lhuntshe and Trashiyangtse hospitals.

Hospital Staff to attend H1 N1 workshop

Three staff from Mongar Hospital will attend the training on H1N1 at Gelephu commencing 25th March for a period of three days. Binay Thapa, Hem Kumar and Dr Gyembo will be attending the same.

Quality Assurance meet

We had almost a three hour long meeting in the cited subject today. Most of the doctors, nurses and unit incharges were present. Major area of discussion was the casualty and how we can improve the services. The Medical Specialist proposed that one specialist should be the over-all incharge of the casualty on a rotation basis.Dr Ugen Thinley and Drugtsho collectively briefed the gathering on the formation of the Religious Affairs Committe.A lunch was also served before the meeting began.

Draft Pediatric Emergency Guide Ready

The document is now ready for printing and distribution amongst the doctors in the eastern region for initial review and comments. Its now a 32 page document covering only the common and life threatening emergencies. I am wondering if spiral binding facilities are in place in Mongar! And if Mongar Hospital has some budget to spare!

Today's CME

The Eye Surgeon today conducted a CME on the cited subject covering some of the most dramatic emergencies in ophthalmological practice. He covered major vision threatening emergencies like acute glaucoma, chemical injuries, blunt injuries and central retinal artery obstruction in detail. This was one of the most comprehensive and practically useful CME's we have had in the last couple of weeks.

Some of the other emergencies which could not be covered today will be taken at a later date.

Committe for Religious Affairs

The Hospital Drungtsho proposed the formation of a committe for religious affairs which will organise various religious activities like annual Rimdro, visit of Lams and Religious leaders to the hospital. The comittee is in the process of formation.

Farewell Dr Jambay!

Dr Jambay, GDMO, who has been transferred to Haa BHU I, was officially given a farewell today. He had been in this hospital for last two years. We all will miss him especially from the badminton courts!

Two new members were also welcomed to the Mongar Hospital family-

Dr Krishna, Pathologist and Mr Om Luitel, IT officer.

Druk Star: A descent way to spend a boring weekend!

I found this a good way of spending some time in the weekend especially when you dont want to go out. You can see a good blend of Bhutanese talents singing live including some veterans who are there as the judges or the guest. Its a matter of pride that our country is keeping abreast to the tunes of the outside world!

And of course, Jangchuk Choden is a sure promise to the Bhutanese singing industry! A star will be born soon...She has a talent , she has a voice for the modern Bhutanese.

Bad Sunday!Sad sunday!

Today became a bad sunday for me... I lost two critically ill children both very young and innocent lives, who could not wait to see even their first birthday! Sometimes God is cruel to snatch them away so early and leave their parents and all of us devastated.

Hope He will take care of them now.........we did our best but could not keep them with us. May their souls rest in peace!

Orthopedic CME

An hour long CME on common ortho problems epecially covering common joint dislocations and management was held yesterday.About 40 staff attended the session.

Finally an IT Person for MRRH

After months of running without an IT Personnel, MRRH finally has one newly appointed computer graduate for the IT section, who joined duty from today. One of the previous staff was transferred and another is under training outside.

Hon'ble Lyonpo visits MRRH

The Hon'ble Minister of Health, Lyonpo Zanglay Dukpa , visited Mongar Hospital today and spent time with the staff and nursing assistants. He interacted freely with the nurse assistant trainees and listened to their opinion. He encouraged the staff to work hard and re emphasized on CARE,COMPASSION,CONSCIENCE AND COMFORT!

Scenes from Todays CME: Labour management

Pathologist to join soon.

Senior Pathologist, Dr Krishna, will soon join MRRH after having been transferred from JDWNRH. He replaces Dr Dhungyel, who is away for 6 months training in Onco-pathology to Thailand and has also been transferred to JDWNRH.

Medical Superintendent attends Budget meet

The Medical Superintendent, Dr. Tapas Gurung, is in Thimphu to attend the one day annual budget meeting scheduled for 3rd March.

Pediatric Emergency Treatment Guide

A draft version of the "Pediatric Emergency Treatment Guide" will soon be available for the hospitals in Eastern Bhutan. It is a continuation of the Protocol that is already available in the Paediatric ward at MRRH for last two years. I prepared the Protocol when I joined as a Pediatrician here in Mongar two years back.This will help the junior doctors in districts to manage children with acute illnesses more appropiately, thereby saving a number of precious lives.

Feedback from the hospitals will be gathered and final version will be printed in the form of a book in due course of time.I would like to extend tons of thanks to Dr Karma, GDMO, Lhuntse Hospital ,who has voluntarily typed the initial version.

One day workshop on H1N1 Vaccine and Diabetes Workshop

A one day workshop for DMOs and DHSOs is being organised by the EPI Program at Mongar on Friday, the 26th of February. Resource Persons will be coming from the Headquarters. This is in preparation for the Flu vaccine the country is going to get soon.

Another workshop/training for ACOs is being organised for three days begining first March. Specialists from Mongar Hospital are expected to conduct the same. I will probably be covering the Pediatric Diabetes part.

How can we make our national sport safer?

What do you think we all can do to make our national sport safer? We come across several arrow injuries , many leading to major handicaps or requiring a major surgery. Many times it is the carelessness of the players or the spectators but at times innocent passerbys become the unfortunate victims of a ghastly accident. It is high time we all think of some remedial measures to make our national game safer.

Meanwhile Kudos to the Mongar Dzongkhag Administration! The previously unsafe archery range has now been shifted to a safer ground.

What you think on the specialist's position level?

Many young specialists are in position level P4/ P3. What do you think their level should be once they complete specialisation? Please vote on the blog poll on the left side of your screen. Thanks a lot and thanks for visiting this blog!

Enjoy some beautiful flowers from the doctors colony

As I was strolling our little one around the quarters, these beautiful

things caught my eyes...enjoy! Of course maintained by no other than our MS himself. Good job!

Consultant visit

A consultant from Norway accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Health visited MRRH today to inspect the preparation and preparedness of the Hospital incase of an Influenza outbreak. They visited the areas identified for isolating the patients and suggested improvement in some aspects.

Clinical Case Discussion

A clinical case of Hemolytic Anemia was discussed yesterday at the CME session attended by more than 40 staff from the hospital.

Hospital bids farewell to Pathologist and two other staff

The MRRH staff bid farewell to three outgoing staff yesterday. Pathologist Dr Dhungel has been transferred to JDWNRH, Finance Officer Sangay Duba to the
Thrimkhang (Mongar) and ANM Damanta Bhujel to JDWNRH.

CME: Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative

These are the scenes from the interseting and useful CME session

held at the conference hall, attended by about 30 staff. Kesang Wangmo, the Incharge of the Maty Unit was the resource person.

HRC meet

The Human Resource Committe of MRRH met yesterday to discuss some staff nominations for upcoming workshp on "Violence against Women" at Gelephu and some other transfer related issues. The nominations are yet to be confirmed. Meanwhile three staff nurses have been nominated for training on Dialysis sometime later this year.

Farewell to transferred staff

Three staff members were given a farewell this afternoon, who have been posted out of Mongar Hospital. They are Namgay of Dental Unit, Sangay of Physiotherapy and Karma Lhamo of Laboratory.During the gathering, the Medical Superintendent briefed the staff on problems of early relieving of transferred staff in the absence of replacements.

Mongar Hospital to get new Ambulance

MRRH will soon have a new ambulance for the hospital to replace an old and ailing ambulance that has been in service for many years. The new vehicle which is said to have cost about 3 million Ngultrums is equipped with sophisticated facilites.

Annual Health Conference in Mongar?

As per the DHO of Mongar and Mr Kado of the PPD, MoH, the Annual Health Conference for 2010 will be held in Mongar. This is not officially declared ofcourse. If in Mongar, we feel that more doctors and staff of MRRH can fruitfully participate in the conference which otherwise eludes us. Meanwhile a letter calling the agendas has been received by the hospital.

A budding life was lost early today

A six year old girl child lost her life on a road accident early this morning. She has serious head injuries and was dead on arrival to our casualty.

Signs of development all around!

Mongar's evening these days are full of blasts!! and indeed loud blasts! They come from just across the hospital: from a tiny village by the name of Konbar where construction of a proposed highway to Lhuntse is in full swing. The sleepy village will now have a road cutting right from its middle and it will not probably be long before we can drive the road for a Picnic!

Not far away, Chali gewog also facing mongar, has another road already leading to the gewog centre. With the completion of all these roads, some say that Chali will have three roads! Indeed true.

Dinner for winning Khuru!

A half day Khuru match was played at the hospital premises between the doctors team and the Technicians team this afternoon. The doctors team won the match and will be treated over at a dinner at Druk Yul for the bet! Well, this is the third time the doctors beat the Techs...and not surprisingly course , I could not hit even a Daya this time!!! Never mind , the dinner is for the whole team...

Their Majesties, the Queen Mothers Grace Mongar Hospital

Their Majesties, the Queen Mothers Ashi Tshering Yangzom Wangchuk and Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuk visited Mongar Hospital on 5th February and met with each and every in -ward patients and had a chat with many of the patients. All the staff felt lucky to have been graced by the Royal visit. It will be a memorable day in the hospitals calender.

Plight of the junior specialists

Is anything happening or going to happen on the issue of PCS and the current position of some of our junior specialists? I heard that some of our seniors are fighting for this but we hardly know anything . It is dissapointing that many of us are placed quite low in the PCS. We just kept quite as we heard that whole PCS is being revised. Some of us who joined way back in 2001-2002,worked for 4 years and went for MD,came back, and got P3A...which we would have got without MD as well(regular promotion being due by 2005-2006.)..moreover, the ministry failed to give a proper designation to us( I am still a Medical Officer)...More dissapointing was to know that some junior doctors who joined much later in 2006 were directly placed in P3 as CMO..if we compare this, neither our seniority counts nor does the post graduate degree!! so after couple of years in service and a slogging 3 years of PG training, we are at the same level as a GDMO...
Can we do anything on this regard?

Jaundice on the rise? I dont think so!

There was some new on this subject yesterday on BBS.It will be probably wrong to say that Jaundice is increasing due to increasing birth rates. We would be more correct if we say that more jaundice cases are coming to the hospital probably because our services are now better and more children are born in the hospital, or referred from other centres or even our parents are more aware of the condition.I am of the view that our birth rates are falling although number of deliveries in the hospital may be rising, which is a good trend.

Actually most jaundice in the neonates is normal and I wonder why it was made a news item!

Half Diarrhoea: Some humor at office!

A Teenager walked into my chamber with a younger sibbling who apparently had loose stools. As usual I asked for the chief complaints and the teenager prompted "haa... diarrhoea" in a very confident voice..i asked again saying i could not get her....and she said "haaf Diarrhoea"..it was not clear to me still , so I asked her to speal in Sharchop...With a little bit of ego as she seemed to know some English, she then said "Half Diarrhoea-between solid and liquid"

Then I got to know that her sibbling had some semi-solid stools which she thought is called Half Diarrhoea...