CTA President Opens 6th Tibetan Health Review Meeting

DHARAMSHALA: President Dr Lobsang Sangay of Central Tibetan Administration on Monday inaugurated the sixth Tibetan Health Review Meeting at Nyatri Hall, Gangchen Kyishong.

The two-day health review meeting is being convened by the Department of Health, CTA to strengthen measures to improve the health care system and discuss steps to scale up awareness about prevention of diseases common in Tibetan community.

A total of 35, including doctors from Delek Hospital, Mentsee Khang, local hospitals in various Tibetan settlements, Ngoenga school, monastic institutes, Directors and members of the various local health bodies of Tibetan settlements and representatives of Central Council of Tibetan Medicine are participating in the review meeting.

The inaugural ceremony was presided by Chief guest, Dr Lobsang Sangay,  CTA President, Kalon Choekyong Wangchuk, personal physician to His Holiness the Dalai Lama Dr Tsewang Tamdin and Dr Tsetan Dorji, Secretary Tsegyal Chukya and Director of Delek Hospital and Tibetan MP, Dawa Phunkyi.

President Dr Lobsang Sangay, in his inaugural remarks, asserted Kashag’s steadfast commitment to improve public health and raise awareness on disease prevention in exile Tibetan community. He also announced that a budget of 80 Lakh has been sanctioned to revitalise infrastructure of Tibetan healthcare centres in settlements and revamp housing and necessary facilities for its staff members.

He highlighted the urgency to address the prevalent rate of certain chronic diseases in Tibetan community including Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, HIV Aids, cases of substance abuse, throat and esophagus cancer and mental health issues.

Lauding the TB eradication target set by world health organisation (2030), Indian health ministry (2025) and Himachal Pradesh state government (2022), President Dr Sangay said the CTA will also participate in the campaign by setting a target of zero TB in Tibetan schools by 2021.

He further stressed on the importance to recognise and treat mental health issues in exile youth. Recreational facilities such as open gym, basket ball court and foot ball grounds and public libraries are in the pipeline and are aimed at encouragiong positive growth and capacity of the youth, he said.

“World Health Organisation’s definition of health as contained in its constitution states that Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. This highlights the important aspects of mental health and social health,” the President said.

He concluded by urging the participants to express frank ideas and suggestions to develop an effective framework of actions and asked them to review and analyse the reports submitted by the Preventive Healthcare Committee. Since the advice from His Holiness the Dalai Lama on lack of preventive measures in Tibetan settlements, the Kashag has held a series of discussions and effectively formed a Preventive Health Care committee to ensure concrete improvement in public health in April 2016.

Kalon Choekyong Wangchuk, Department of Health, CTA introduced the detailed agenda of the meeting, which includes the formulation of draft Health Policy Paper and addressing current status and prevention of Tuberculosis, Hep B, Throat and Esophagus Cancer, HIV Aids and Substance abuse.

“It will also devise programmes on how to educate the Tibetan people about precautionary methods and to maintain a sustainable healthy community,” Kalon added.

On top of its commitment to public health, Kalon avowed that professional growth and well-being of its medical officers and staff were top priority.

He encouraged the participants to highlight the existing problems in the Medicare system and also recommend solutions to address the issues.

For two days, the medical professionals will hold intensive deliberation on ways to improve and strengthen the medical system and practices in both traditional Tibetan medicine and allopathy. They will also hold a comprehensive review of the reports of the Preventive Healthcare Committee and its implementations.

Secretary Tsegyal Chukya Dranyi, Department of Health delivered the vote of thanks.