India, Bhutan Deepen Health Partnership as AIIMS Signs MoU with Bhutan Medical University

The latest agreements underscore India's continued commitment to supporting Bhutan's healthcare, education, and sustainable development priorities while further strengthening bilateral cooperation in the region.

India and Bhutan have further strengthened their longstanding development partnership with a renewed focus on healthcare, education, and sustainable development, following the fifth India–Bhutan Development Cooperation Talks held in Thimphu.

The talks were co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and his Bhutanese counterpart Dasho Pema Lektup Dorji, during which both sides reviewed the progress of India-supported projects under Bhutan's 13th Five-Year Plan and explored new avenues for bilateral cooperation.

A key outcome of the meeting was the exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Bhutan's Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences to strengthen collaboration in health education and research.

The partnership is expected to promote academic exchange, capacity building, and collaborative research, further deepening healthcare ties between the two countries.

As part of India's continued support for Bhutan's development, the two sides also exchanged an agreement for a ₹4,000 crore concessional Line of Credit between the Export-Import Bank of India and Bhutan's Ministry of Finance. The funding will support key development initiatives across multiple sectors.

Reaffirming its commitment to Bhutan's sustainability goals, India also handed over 45 electric vehicles to the Royal Government of Bhutan to support the country's green mobility initiatives.

Additionally, the two Foreign Secretaries virtually inaugurated the Thimphu Ecological Park and Olakha Park, developed under the "Green Infrastructure and Open Spaces in Thimphu" project with Indian support.

India remains Bhutan's largest development partner, providing financial and technical assistance across infrastructure, connectivity, education, healthcare, and capacity-building initiatives. During the discussions, Bhutan acknowledged India's continued support and its significant contribution to the country's socio-economic development.

As part of his visit, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also called on His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, reaffirming the close and enduring partnership between the two neighbouring countries.

The latest agreements underscore India's continued commitment to supporting Bhutan's healthcare, education, and sustainable development priorities while further strengthening bilateral cooperation in the region.

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