𝐌𝐨𝐇 𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐑𝐌𝐍𝐂𝐀𝐇+𝐀 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐓𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠

…𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒚 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆, 𝒂𝒈𝒆-𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒄 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒄 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒔

By Yeshi Dolma

The Ministry of Health(MoH) officially launched the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health and Healthy Ageing (RMNCAH+A) Strategy 2025-2029, reaffirming Bhutan’s commitment to promoting health and wellbeing across all stages of life, from preconception through old age on May 15, 2025

Several countries and regions have adopted similar strategies to meet the evolving health needs of their populations. Ghana’s RMNCAHN Strategic Plan aims to reduce preventable deaths among women, children, and adolescents by 2030. Eritrea’s RMNCAH+A plan for 2022-2026, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), focuses on sexual and reproductive health, maternal care, and healthy ageing. The East African Community’s RMNCAH policy guidelines for 2016–2030 seek to integrate health policies across its member states. These global efforts highlight the growing importance of providing care across the entire lifespan, and Bhutan’s new strategy aligns with this international approach by promoting equitable and quality healthcare for all.

The RMNCAH+A Strategy was developed through the joint efforts of the Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health Programme and the Non-Communicable Disease Division, both under the Department of Public Health. It supports the 13th Five Year Plan and is aligned with national development objectives as well as global targets, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Speaking at the launch, a Ministry of Health spokesperson described the strategy as a comprehensive plan intended to ensure that every Bhutanese, from expectant mothers to elderly citizens, can access essential health services. The official noted, “This strategy is rooted in Bhutan’s core values of fairness and wellbeing, and it addresses emerging challenges posed by demographic changes and the rising burden of chronic diseases.”

The launch comes at a crucial time as Bhutan undergoes a demographic transition. The proportion of elderly people in the population is increasing, and projections indicate that by 2050, more than 26.2 percent of Bhutanese will be aged 60 or older. This shift is expected to place additional demand on the health system, particularly in terms of long-term and age-appropriate care. At the same time, non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health conditions are on the rise. These illnesses have become leading causes of death and disability in the country, underlining the need for a more inclusive approach to healthcare that extends beyond the traditional focus on maternal and child health.

To respond to these trends, the RMNCAH+A Strategy adopts a life course approach that recognises how health is influenced by a range of factors- biological, behavioural, and environmental- across a person’s entire life. The strategy expands the focus beyond reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health to include adolescents and older adults. This approach aims to ensure continuity of care and addresses the evolving needs of individuals at different life stages.
The primary goal of the strategy is to improve health outcomes and reduce preventable deaths. It aims to eliminate avoidable mortality among women, newborns, children, and adolescents, reduce stillbirths, and enhance maternal and child health. In addition, it promotes healthy ageing by improving the functional ability of older persons and commits to providing universal access to high-impact and quality health services. The strategy includes targeted interventions for each life stage, such as preconception and antenatal care, safe childbirth, early childhood development, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, mental health care, prevention and management of non-communicable diseases, and comprehensive geriatric care.

The RMNCAH+A Strategy is structured around four key strategic outcomes.
The first outcome focuses on delivering equitable and high-quality health services throughout the life cycle. It emphasises the importance of maintaining essential health services across age groups and ensuring continuity during emergencies. Particular attention is given to maternal and child health, adolescent health, and elderly care to promote inclusive and gender-sensitive services.

The second outcome aims to strengthen the health system’s resilience. This includes improving governance and leadership, upgrading health infrastructure, advancing digital health technologies, ensuring adequate financing, and building the skills of health professionals through training and capacity development.
The third outcome seeks to empower individuals, families, and communities. The strategy promotes health literacy and encourages self-care practices at the household and community level. It supports greater male involvement in family health matters and fosters youth participation in health-related decisions. Community engagement and local leadership are considered critical for driving behavioural change, especially in addressing stigma related to mental and reproductive health.

The fourth outcome underlines the importance of regional and international cooperation. Bhutan plans to engage more actively in knowledge-sharing platforms and to work closely with neighbouring countries and development partners. Areas of collaboration include maternal and child health, the prevention of non-communicable diseases, and healthy ageing. By strengthening South-South and triangular cooperation, Bhutan aims to contribute to and benefit from shared expertise and resources.

The Family Health Unit under the Non-Communicable Disease Division will lead the implementation of the strategy. The Ministry of Health will work in close coordination with other government agencies, civil society organisations, and international development partners to ensure a coordinated approach. A multi-sectoral model will guide the execution of activities, promoting collaboration at all levels of governance and service delivery.

To ensure accountability and maintain technical oversight, the Ministry has proposed establishing a National RMNCAH+ Technical Advisory Group. This group will be responsible for providing expert guidance, monitoring progress, and ensuring alignment with Bhutan’s national policies and international commitments, including the SDGs.
During the launch, the Ministry of Health expressed appreciation to its development partners for their role in shaping the strategy. UNFPA, WHO, and UNICEF provided technical and financial support during the planning process. Their involvement reflects a shared commitment to strengthening Bhutan’s health system through inclusive, data-informed, and sustainable measures.

A representative from WHO Bhutan commended the government’s approach, stating, “The RMNCAH+A Strategy is a strong example of how inclusive and evidence-based planning can lead to the development of health systems that effectively serve people at every stage of their lives.”

Looking ahead, officials are hopeful that the strategy will result in meaningful improvements in public health and contribute to Bhutan’s vision of a more inclusive and equitable society. By shifting the focus of healthcare from survival to overall wellbeing, the country is aiming to create a future where every individual- regardless of age, gender, or location- can live a healthier and more dignified life.

As implementation progresses, the RMNCAH+A Strategy is expected to reinforce Bhutan’s leadership in people-centred health policy in the region. It offers a comprehensive and forward-looking response to the complex health challenges of the 21st century and reflects a strong national commitment to protecting the health of its population from the earliest stages of life to old age.