Emergency Numbers & Access
Call 112. JDWNRH (Thimphu) handles all major emergencies. Healthcare is free but facilities are basic. Your tour operator will coordinate any medical needs.
Response time: Thimphu/Paro: 15-30 min. Rural/mountain areas: 1-4 hours.
Cost: FREE — public healthcare is free for everyone including tourists. Evacuation: $20,000-50,000.
Healthcare System
Bhutan uniquely offers FREE healthcare to everyone, including tourists. Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) in Thimphu is the main hospital — reasonably equipped but limited for complex cases. District hospitals in Paro, Punakha, and Bumthang provide basic care. For serious conditions, medical evacuation to Bangkok or Delhi. Bhutan charges a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of $100/day ($200/day for non-regional tourists), which partly funds healthcare. All tourism must be booked through licensed operators.
Designed for: Everyone — Bhutan provides free healthcare to all people in the country, including tourists.
GP Access & Costs
Free walk-in at public hospitals. Your tour operator will arrange medical visits.
Typical wait: 1-3 hours at JDWNRH. District hospitals: shorter waits.
Availability: Good in Thimphu and Paro. Basic in district towns. Non-existent on trekking routes.
GP Visit
FREE — all public healthcare is free for tourists
Private GP
N/A — healthcare is free. Very limited private sector.
ER Without Insurance
FREE locally. Evacuation to Bangkok/Delhi: $20,000-50,000.
Medication
Basic medications available free at public hospitals. Limited range — bring specialty medications from home.
Pharmacy & Medication
Hours: Hospital pharmacies: 8am-5pm weekdays. Limited pharmacies in Thimphu town.
OTC: Very limited range. Bring all needed medications.
Controlled substances: Bhutan has strict drug laws. Carry prescriptions. Many Western medications not available.
Practical Tips
- JDWNRH (Thimphu) — main national hospital, free care, some English-speaking doctors
- Paro Hospital — nearest hospital to the international airport
- Your tour operator is your lifeline — they coordinate ALL medical arrangements
- Altitude: acclimatise in Paro (2,200m) before going higher. Trek passes reach 5,000m+
- Bring Acetazolamide (Diamox) for altitude — may not be available locally
- Medical evacuation to Bumrungrad Hospital (Bangkok) or Apollo Hospital (Delhi) for serious cases
- Pack a comprehensive first-aid kit for any trekking
- Stray dogs: avoid contact — rabies is present. Seek post-exposure treatment immediately if bitten
Who can get care in Bhutan?
Emergency care for anyone
Emergency departments in Bhutan treat everyone regardless of residency or insurance status.
Public system for visitors
Short-term visitors can use the public system broadly on the same basis as residents.
Seeing a Doctor as a visitor
Free walk-in at public hospitals. Your tour operator will arrange medical visits. Typical cost: FREE — all public healthcare is free for tourists. Typical wait: 1-3 hours at JDWNRH. District hospitals: shorter waits.
Insurance needed for entry or visa
Not a formal entry requirement, but medical cover is strongly recommended. Emergency care without cover: FREE locally. Evacuation to Bangkok/Delhi: $20,000-50,000..
Documents worth having ready
- Passport
- Bhutan visa (arranged through tour operator)
- Travel insurance with altitude/evacuation coverage
- Prescriptions
- Proof of SDF payment
Local contacts in Bhutan
Emergency services
112 (national emergency) / 110 (police) / 113 (fire)
Call 112. JDWNRH (Thimphu) handles all major emergencies. Healthcare is free but facilities are basic. Your tour operator will coordinate any medical needs.
Pharmacies
Hospital pharmacies: 8am-5pm weekdays. Limited pharmacies in Thimphu town.
Very limited range. Bring all needed medications.
What is the emergency number in Bhutan?
112 (national emergency) or 110 (police) or 113 (fire) in Bhutan. Call 112. JDWNRH (Thimphu) handles all major emergencies. Healthcare is free but facilities are basic. Your tour operator will coordinate any medical needs.
How much does a Doctor visit cost in Bhutan?
FREE — all public healthcare is free for tourists. Private consultations: N/A — healthcare is free. Very limited private sector..
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Sources: Bhutan Ministry of Health, WHO Bhutan, CDC Travelers' Health 2024, Tourism Council of Bhutan
Last reviewed: March 2026 by ViscaCare