Construction of Royal Centre for Infectious Diseases Progressing Ahead of Schedule

Construction of the Royal Centre for Infectious Diseases (RCID), Bhutan’s first state-of-the-art hospital dedicated to the prevention, control, and management of infectious diseases, is progressing ahead of schedule, with 40 percent of the work already completed. Located in Gidakom, Thimphu, the project is rapidly transforming into a landmark institution for public health in the country and will be completed for execution by June 2026.

The RCID is being developed under the support of the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). With a total grant of JPY 3.75 billion (approximately Nu 2.2 billion), the project marks the largest Japanese grant aid initiative in the history of JICA’s development cooperation in Bhutan.

Major construction milestones already achieved include the completion of the hospital’s main structure and foundational pillars. The project is scheduled for completion within 45 months, with 36 months allocated for construction and an additional 12 months for the maintenance and calibration of advanced medical equipment.

Two grant agreements have been signed to facilitate the project: the first on September 26, 2022, for JPY 2.99 billion, and the second on April 16, 2024, for JPY 758 million.

Once completed, the RCID will serve as a national hub for infectious disease management, equipped with cutting-edge infrastructure and technology. The hospital will house 80 inpatient beds, with the capacity to scale up to 100 during public health emergencies. It will offer comprehensive services in disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and emergency preparedness—strengthening Bhutan’s resilience against emerging health threats, including pandemics like COVID-19.

The project is being executed by the Ministry of Health (MoH), with construction undertaken by Dai Nippon Construction, a Japanese company with an extensive portfolio of 17 successful grant aid projects in Bhutan. These include bridges, schools, irrigation schemes, and micro-hydropower plants.

Three leading Japanese consulting firms—Oriental Consultants Global Co., Ltd., International Techno Centre Co., Ltd., and K. Ito Architects & Engineers Inc.—are providing design, supervision, and technical assistance throughout the project cycle.

Upon completion, the RCID will include inpatient wards, outpatient services, diagnostic laboratories, administrative offices, and training facilities. The Centre is envisioned as a regional centre of excellence, playing a critical role in bolstering national and regional capacities for health security and disease control.

The early progress of the RCID signals not only strong bilateral ties between Bhutan and Japan but also a transformative step in advancing Bhutan’s healthcare system and pandemic preparedness.

Tashi Namgyal from Thimphu