On 2nd August, 2025, The Eastern Regional Referral Hospital (ERRH) in Mongar, in collaboration with the Khesar Gyalpo Uni-versity of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB), inaugurated the Eastern Regional Health Research Centre (ERHRC) on 2nd August 2025. The event was graced by the Dasho Dzongda of Mongar Dzong-khag, Mr. Lungten Jamtsho, and attended by heads of sectors in Mongar, representatives from KGUMSB, the National Medical Services (NMS), as well as doctors and unit in-charges of ERRH. Several executives from KGUMSB also joined the program virtually.
The primary aim of establishing the ERHRC is to foster a research culture, enhance the research capacity of teaching faculty, and develop networks, linkages, and collaborations with national and international research centres and the universities. ERHRC is expected to generate high-quality scientific evidence to inform medical decision-making and influence national healthcare policies. The centre will also provide research mentorship for healthcare professionals and students posted at ERRH.
Commending this initiative, Dasho Dzongda described the establishment of ERHRC as an unprecedented and timely step taken by the hospital management of ERRH and KGUMSB. He highlighted its signifi-cance in meeting the growing need for evidence-based decision-making in patient care, public health pre-paredness, health system strengthening, capacity building, and in supporting the career development of health professionals.
To maximize its potential and ensure alignment with national research priorities, the ERHRC will work in close collaboration with the Central Research and Innovation Division of MECRIT at KGUMSB.
The establishment of the centre has been financially supported through a collaborative research project be-tween KGUMSB and the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, funded by the NIH, under the project titled “Investigation of Epidemiology and Transmission of Leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka and Bhutan.”
