𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐩 𝐈𝐧 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

…𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉 𝑴𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒋𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔

By Yeshi Dolma

At the 17th Meet-the-Press session, Health Minister Tandin Wangchuk acknowledged a critical gap in the national health security system: the absence of a dedicated policy and response mechanism for radiation emergencies. This shortcoming was highlighted during the recent Joint External Evaluation (JEE), which gave the country its lowest score in radiation emergency preparedness.

The JEE, conducted by both national and international experts, assessed the country’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats. It identified radiation preparedness as a serious concern.
“With no formal mechanisms currently in place, this poses a serious concern,” said Minister Tandin Wangchuk. He pointed out that while Bhutan faces minimal internal radiation risks due to the absence of nuclear power plants and medical isotope facilities, the global and regional context demands better preparedness. “Public health safety must not be compromised by the assumption of low risk,” he said.

Radiation emergencies may seem remote to the public, but experts warn this perception can be dangerous. Dawa Rinzin, a Radio Technologist, emphasized that radiation preparedness is essential. “The JEE made it very clear. We received the lowest score in this area because there is no national policy, no contingency plan, and no designated authority to handle radiation emergencies. That should alarm everyone,” he said.

Dawa Rinzin also highlighted rising geopolitical tensions between neighboring countries, including recent military skirmishes between India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed states. “Given our proximity to these nations, any radiation emergency across the border, whether accidental or intentional, could have serious spillover effects. It’s not a distant risk, it’s a regional one. We need to be ready.”

He referred to global history to underline the enduring risks. “As seen after the bombing of Japan, generations continue to suffer the long-term consequences of radiation exposure. Radiation emergencies are not just about immediate danger, they create a public health legacy,” he said.

Although Minister Tandin Wangchuk clarified that there is no standalone national policy specifically for radiation emergencies, he said the issue has not been completely ignored. He mentioned the National Health Policy of 2011 and the Health Emergency and Disaster Contingency Plans of 2024, which cover public health emergencies broadly, including man-made and natural hazards. The Disaster Management Act of 2013 provides a legal framework for preparedness and coordination but does not address the technical details or unique demands of radiological and nuclear events.

According to the minister, these general policies lack the specificity, technical detail, and institutional arrangements needed for an effective radiation emergency response, a gap the JEE highlighted repeatedly. “The recent JEE mission clearly stated that public health risks related to radiation emergencies cannot be underestimated. Therefore, we must have specific plans for detection and response in health, including capacity building,” he said.

The JEE made several key recommendations. The foremost is the creation and regular updating of a national inventory of radio-nuclear sources, along with a comprehensive risk assessment. Radiation emergencies should be formally included in national alert systems, public health surveillance, disaster response strategies, training programs, and review mechanisms. Another recommendation is to establish formal partnerships with international radiation response institutions to strengthen national expertise and allow real-time support during emergencies.

To ensure preparedness, the JEE urged national authorities to mobilize financial and material resources, both domestic and international, to establish a national medical response unit for radiological emergencies. This unit would be based at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, the country’s main tertiary care center.
Minister Tandin Wangchuk acknowledged that the country lacks skilled human resources in radiobiology, formal emergency mechanisms, and clear role-specific protocols for key institutions. “Currently, there is no complete national profile of radiation sources, no contingency plan, and no assigned responsibilities. That is a fundamental gap,” he admitted.

Despite these challenges, the Ministry of Health has committed to prioritizing this issue in the coming months. “Once the recommendations are finalized, we will begin work on formulating a national policy or action plan to address public health emergencies caused by radiation and nuclear events. Alternatively, we may include it as a special chapter in our broader national policies and contingency plans,” Minister Tandin Wangchuk said.

A multisectoral coordination effort has already begun. The Ministry is bringing together stakeholders from health, disaster management, foreign affairs, industry, and national security to build a unified, responsive framework. “Radiation emergencies require coordinated action across agencies,” the minister emphasized. “This is not just a health issue, it is a matter of national safety.”

Radiation technologies offer significant benefits, especially in healthcare for cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, the risks from radiation exposure- whether from accidents, attacks, or misuse- are serious, long-lasting, and often invisible in their early stages. This balance of risk and benefit makes it essential to have systems in place to manage both effectively.

As the Ministry of Health moves to implement the JEE recommendations, there is cautious optimism that the country will soon have a robust and clear policy on radiation emergencies. What remains certain is that public health preparedness in this area is not optional but essential for national resilience in an uncertain regional environment.