Bhutan recently participated in the 16th International Association of Medical Regulatory
Authorities (IAMRA) Conference, held from 3โ6 September 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. The
conference, hosted by the Medical Council of Ireland, brought together 467 delegates from 46
countries, representing 123 member organisations, under the theme “People-focused regulation for a safer global community.” Bhutan has been a member of IAMRA since 2011. IAMRA is headquartered in Texas, USA.
๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ
Dr Ugyen Tshewang, Director of the Bhutan Qualifications and Professionals Certification Authority (BQPCA) represented Bhutan, gaining valuable insights into global best
practices in medical regulation, workforce planning, patient safety, and compassionate healthcare governance.
The conference emphasised “right-touch regulation,” balancing accountability,
proportionality, and effectiveness. Delegates explored:
โข Licensing innovations and digital systems.
โข Workforce retention strategies.
โข Ethical frameworks and patient-centered care.
โข Digital enabled competency assessments.
๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ง
โข Maintain a single national license for doctors within the country while strengthening
licensure and verification for foreign practitioners.
โข Engage the Bhutanese medical diaspora to address workforce shortages and facilitate
knowledge transfer.
โข Introduce incentives and career growth pathways for healthcare staff in rural areas.
โข Embed compassion, ethics, and patient voices into regulatory frameworks.
โข Leverage digital systems for licensing, credentialing, and workforce planning.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐งโ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ
Bhutan also highlighted its unique integration of modern and traditional medicine.
Dr Tshewang noted: “Our dual system is a national strength. Developing regulatory models that ensure patient safety, quality assurance, and workforce recognition across both modern and traditional medicine systems will allow Bhutan to align with international best practices while preserving our unique healthcare heritage.”
๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐
Bhutanโs participation strengthens its ability to benchmark against international standards and
engage in global regulatory dialogue.
Key outcomes include:
โข Enhanced collaboration with regulatory bodies across Asia, Europe, and beyond.
โข Insights into digital licensing and digital-enabled assessments.
โข Safeguarding patient safety.
โข Alignment with international frameworks for recognition of qualifications.
๐๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐
Building on IAMRA 2025 outcomes, Bhutan will:
โข Enhance national regulatory frameworks in line with international best practices.
โข Introduce innovations in digital credentialing and workforce data management.
โข Strengthen international collaboration to ensure Bhutanese health professionals remain
globally competitive while safeguarding patient safety.
Bhutan thanks IAMRA, the Medical Council of Ireland, and the WHO for enabling participation
in this impactful forum. The conference underscores Bhutanโs commitment to continuous learning, international collaboration, and integrating traditional and modern healthcare practices to meet global best practices while preserving national values.
“Bhutan continues to lead in compassionate, people-centered healthcare regulation on the global stage.”
