Containing COVID-19 in the Land of the Thunder Dragon

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Bhutan leveraged Gross National Happiness (GNH) principles and an internationally supported vaccination campaign to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The GNH framework, in place since the 1970s and later codified, aims to balance development with cultural, social, and environmental priorities through four pillars: good governance, sustainable socioeconomic development, preservation and promotion of culture, and environmental conservation.
Interview with Lyonpo Namgay Tshering, Bhutan’s finance minister since 2018, describes how GNH is integrated into planning, budgeting, and public financial management during the pandemic.

Bhutan executed what UNICEF considers “arguably the fastest vaccination campaign to be executed during a pandemic.”
The country inoculated more than 80 percent of the total population (12 years old and above) with timely and generous support from countries in the region, Europe, and the United States.
Bhutan was preparing for a nationwide third, booster, dose.
As of mid-December 2021, Bhutan did not have any positive cases from the community.
His Majesty the King’s leadership and the Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu (National Resilience Fund) provided relief measures including interest deferment on loans and income support to individuals directly affected by the pandemic.

With strict containment measures and successful vaccination programs, the economy was estimated to achieve 3 percent GDP growth in 2021 from –10.8 percent in 2020.
The finance ministry implemented fiscal and monetary measures to provide economic stability and protect the vulnerable, including measures to protect the old and vulnerable.
Southern border regions experienced stricter containment and longer lockdowns; strict regulation of international trade entry and exit points in the South caused inflation.
The main economic challenge identified is to normalize international trade points, contingent on how the pandemic evolves in other countries.

GNH comprises four pillars and nine domains related to well-being: living standards, health, education, ecological diversity and resilience, community vitality, time use, psychological well-being, good governance, and cultural diversity and resilience.
GNH is operationalized through a GNH screening tool: only plans, programs, and policies approved through the GNH screening tool are eligible for the annual budget.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are mainstreamed into plans and programs alongside GNH.

The Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu, fiscal and monetary measures, and the De-Suung—Guardians of Peace—program brought all sections of society together, including the weak, vulnerable, and disadvantaged.
De-Suung, established under His Majesty’s leadership in 2011, recharged volunteerism; thousands of young people helped guard borders and sometimes worked as paramedics during the pandemic.
De-Suung is engaged in transformative training and re-skilling programs to support transition to a 21st century economy.
These cultural and social cohesion factors were credited with strengthening Bhutanese society’s collective pandemic response.

Environmental conservation remains a foremost commitment during recovery; Bhutan’s Constitution mandates 60 percent of forest coverage at all times to maintain intergenerational equity of natural resources.
As part of sustainable financing mechanisms, the government issued a royal charter for Bhutan for Life to safeguard protected areas and people’s livelihoods.
The ministry is exploring climate change financing and innovative instruments such as floating green bonds and GNH bonds.

“more than 80 percent of the total population (12 years old and above)” vaccinated.
“preparing for a nationwide third, booster, dose.”
“no positive cases from the community as of mid-December 2021.”
Economy estimated to achieve “3 percent GDP growth in 2021” from “–10.8 percent in 2020.”
GNH framework in place since the “1970s.”
De-Suung program established in “2011.”
Constitution mandates “60 percent of forest coverage at all times.”
GNH measures nine domains across the four pillars: living standards; health; education; ecological diversity and resilience; community vitality; time use; psychological well-being; good governance; cultural diversity and resilience.

Containing COVID-19 in the Land of the Thunder Dragon, MELINDA WEIR, December 2021.