Office of the Foreign Minister

Foreign Minister (Profile)

Dr. Tandi Dorji was appointed as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Bhutan on 10 November 2018. He is the founding member of Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa, the current ruling party governing Bhutan. 

Dr. Tandi Dorji, 52 years is a Pediatrician by profession and worked as a consultant Pediatrician at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Thimphu, Bhutan from 2001-2007, and at the Eastern Regional Referral Hospital, Mongar, Bhutan from 2001-2004.

Foreign Minister has a long experience in health services. He chaired the National Certification Commission on Polio Elimination (2013-till date) and the National Certification Committee for measles elimination and rubella/CRS control from 2015-2018.

 Prior to joining politics, Foreign Minister was actively involved in various health activities including being a volunteer project assistant for AUSTCARE (Australian Caring for Refugees) Sydney, Australia; Lecturer and Clinical Instructor at the Royal Institute of Health Sciences, Thimphu Bhutan; Member of Council, Bhutan Medical and Health Council, Thimphu Bhutan; Professor, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences, Thimphu, Bhutan; Managing Director and Researcher, Center for Research Initiative, Bhutan; and Program Health Specialist as Local Fund Agent for the Global Fund.

Dr. Tandi Dorji has a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Faculty of Business and Law, Canberra University Canberra, Australia (2014 – Jan 2015) and Masters in International Public Health (M.I.P.H.) from School of Public Health, Sydney University Sydney, Australia (2005 – 2006). He undertook the M.I.P.H. as a World Bank Scholar. He completed his Doctor of Medicine in Pediatrics (M.D.) from Armed Forces Medical College, Pune University, India (1997 – 2000). He completed his Bachelor Medicine, Bachelor Surgery (M.B.B.S) from Mymensingh Medical College, Dhaka University, Bangladesh (1988–1994). His earlier schooling was at St. Joseph’s School, North Point, Darjeeling, India (1975–1984) and completed his pre-university from Sherubtse College.  

 Foreign Minister has several publications to his credit. He published two books i.e. History of Medicine in Bhutan co-authored with Dr. Bjorn Melgaard which was published in 2012 and another one titled Drukyul Decides; In the minds of Bhutan’s first voters with Gyambo Sithey published in 2009. He also published Manual on Control of Rabies & Clinical Management of Rabies in 2008 and Manual on Management of Malnutrition for Health Workers in 2007. He has also published articles titled Impact of WTO and TRIPS on price & accessibility of essential drugs in Bhutan in 2007, HIV & Youth and Working for Health in 2006. 

He is married to Karma Choden and they have two daughters. Dr. Tandi Dorji speaks Dzongkha, English, Hindi, Nepali and Bangla.

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