Scoping Review to Identify Potential Solutions to Challenges Faced by Village Health Workers in Bhutan

Abstract

Community health workers (CHWs) have been readily utilized in a variety of economic and institutional
settings over the last six decades. However, due to the diverse responsibilities, implementation styles, and
sociocultural factors among different regions, the influence and benefits of CHWs differs widely among
various nations. We present potential approaches to addressing the current challenges faced by VHWs in
Bhutan, which are categorized into four overarching. categories. These include improving management and
community expectations, improving societal factors for VHWs, providing monetary support for VHWs
and improving and expanding training. Like many CHW programs in developing regions, Bhutan’s VHW
program is able to offer a cost-effective source of health resources to communities in need. However,
significant time and resources need to be invested to ensure that the dramatic reduction in VHWs becomes
abated, as there is a clear increased cost onto the Bhutanese healthcare system and a decrease of necessary
health services provided to communities. Although our study uses the Kingdom of Bhutan as a model, these
recommendations can and should be implemented by other countries facing similar challenges with their
community health worker programs.