Dr. Pema Lhazeen

Dr. Pema Lhazeen is a general surgeon at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimphu — Bhutan's only national referral hospital and the main centre for surgical care in the country. With 12 years of surgical experience, he provides essential general and abdominal surgical services.

Dr. Pema trained in Bhutan before completing his MS in General Surgery at PGIMER (Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) in Chandigarh, India — a major training partner for Bhutanese medical graduates. He subsequently undertook laparoscopic surgery training.

His practice covers the common general surgical conditions in Bhutan, including gallbladder disease, appendicitis, hernias, thyroid surgery, and trauma surgery. Road traffic injuries and agricultural accidents are the main trauma sources. For complex oncological or subspecialty surgical cases beyond JDWNRH's current capacity, he coordinates referrals to India.

Dr. Pema earned his MBBS from Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB) — the country's national medical school established to train Bhutanese physicians domestically. He was selected for specialist surgical training at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, India, completing his MS in General Surgery through the longstanding India-Bhutan medical education partnership. PGIMER is one of India's most prestigious postgraduate institutions and has trained a number of Bhutan's senior specialists. He subsequently completed a Certificate in Laparoscopic Surgery through training workshops in India. He maintains continuing surgical education through the Bhutan Medical and Health Council's professional development programme and keeps abreast of advances in minimally invasive surgical techniques relevant to his practice.

Dr. Pema performs laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendicectomy, inguinal and incisional hernia repair, and thyroidectomy for goitre and thyroid nodules. His elective surgical practice also covers colorectal procedures, breast lump excision, and soft tissue tumour removal. Trauma surgery constitutes a significant part of his emergency caseload: road traffic accidents, farming accidents, and falls are the principal mechanisms of injury in Bhutan, and he manages exploratory laparotomy for abdominal trauma, bowel perforation, and solid organ injury. Wound care, abscess drainage, and minor procedures form part of his outpatient work. For complex oncological resections or subspecialty surgical cases requiring multidisciplinary cancer care beyond JDWNRH's current capacity, he coordinates timely referrals to specialist centres in India.

Dr. Pema participates in Bhutan Medical and Health Council continuing education and contributes to surgical training at JDWNRH. He is focused primarily on clinical surgical practice and surgical capacity development in Bhutan.

Dr. Pema provides surgical care for international patients and tourists presenting to JDWNRH — the only hospital in Bhutan with specialist surgical capability. International visitors exploring Bhutan's high-altitude trekking routes occasionally sustain injuries or develop acute abdominal conditions requiring urgent surgical intervention, and Dr. Pema's team provides this emergency care. Bhutan's tourism sector is significant and growing, and JDWNRH receives referrals from district hospitals for patients requiring surgical expertise beyond the district level. Dr. Pema consults in Dzongkha, English, and Hindi, making him accessible to Indian tourists who form a large proportion of Bhutan's visitor arrivals. Video consultations are available for pre-operative assessments and post-operative follow-up reviews for patients who have returned home after treatment.

Dr. Pema has been recognised by Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital for his sustained contributions to surgical care in Bhutan. As one of the country's India-trained general surgeons, his work is central to building surgical capacity at the national level. He is a registered member of the Bhutan Medical and Health Council and participates in the council's continuing medical education programme. He mentors junior medical officers and clinical trainees rotating through JDWNRH's surgical department, sharing his skills in laparoscopic technique and trauma surgery management. His combination of laparoscopic and open surgical expertise, gained through training at PGIMER India, positions him as a key contributor to Bhutan's growing national surgical workforce.