Down the memory lane A recap of the year that precedes

Men-Tsee-Khang turned 45 this march. The past one-year has seen many changes in the administrative structure. Having had new Director and Deputy Director nominated from within the Men-Tsee-Khang staff have attributed better understanding to the administrative protocol. The revised Men-Tsee-Khang rules & regulation book was implemented from 1 Jan 2005. Consequently strong group of 21 staff members retired last year in July for the first time since Men-Tsee-Khang’s inception in 1961 with pension and other retirement allowances.

Major projects such as construction of Model University and modern pharmaceutical unit were initiated. These two projects are currently being planned and discussed at various levels. Along with these two, a project on the Men-Tsee-Khang landscape designing is also being executed with assistance from three Norwegian landscape designers who voluntarily supported to help the Men-Tsee-Khang restructure its waste land into something meaningful so that patients and staffs of the Men-Tsee-Khang can use these modified
landscapes to stroll in and have fun. The project is expected to implement this November when the three volunteers return back for the initial work process.

The Men-Tsee-Khang continues to work hand in hand with other universities and medical research centers on the clinical trials of Tibetan medicine; quality assurances and possible presence of heavy metals, to bring out proper documentation and research papers. Cultivation of medicinal herbs and guidance to the locals on the importance of herb cultivation and plucking also received its due acknowledgement and share of time from the administration.

The preceding year saw many courses and workshops. Apart from traditional concept of diagnosis, the administration organized workshops on concepts of diagnosis from the western point of view that is believed to enable Tibetan doctors to understand various scientific reports, which has become indispensable at this juncture. Doctors also received training on CPR. Work on Good

Manufacturing Practices and Quality Control too gained its momentum with new masters of sciences inducted into the staff members to further research works scientifically. Workshops were also given to staff workers at the pharmaceutical and the herbal product research departments.
Owing to space constrain and heavy dampness in Dharamsala, the administration successfully relocated incenses manufac-turing unit to Panipat. It was named the Sorig Product Research Unit and it primarily makes incenses of all kinds and forms.

The medicinal storerooms at the pharmaceutical department is also planned to undergone makeover with installation of cold storage units. This will soon be followed by installation of solar dryer units.

The packaging of the medicines are also changed from the ordinary ones to the certified food grade ‘Low Density Plastics’ (LDP) to retain potency of medicines and increase its shelf life. Apart from that the micro waves & UV rays protection of the the LDP is of high strength with stability that guards the medicines from dust and any possible fungal growth.

In addition to its charitable and educational objectives, Men-Tsee-Khang, unquestionably, is also one of the biggest organisations that contributes its share of duty in providing job opportunity for both the educated and the uneducated unemployed Tibetan youths.

The preceding year saw many evident changes, be it education, healthcare or staff benefits. It is hoped that the years to come shall bring forth much desiring changes that benefit all.