New rule book practices
It is indispensable for an institution to work progressively without having proper written rules & regulations. Though the Men-Tsee-Khang (MTK) has such rules & regulations booklet, yet, owing to its development and expansion the Governing Body (GB) of the MTK felt a need to revise it.
A separate bench of committee worked for the entire 2004 amending the MTK rules and regulations. The amendments were forwarded to the GB who passed it and the administration puts into practice w.e.f. 1 January 2005. Every staff of the MTK were issued this revised booklet for their reference.
As a foremost task after the introduction of the new rule book, the MTK having been granted rights to elect its own Director & Deputy Director, elected two search committee members. There are three members out of which the GB directly deputes one. The committee after having forwarded lists of probable candidates to the GB who, after thorough discussion, nominates two names for the posts of Director & Deputy Director. All the preceding Directors of the MTK were appointed directly by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).
Amongst other, there is a new post that needs special mention which is that of the Deputy Director who is also elected by the Men-Tsee-Khang staff.
The official function to the appointment of the two most important posts, the Director and the Deputy Director, was held here at the Men-Tsee-Khang hall on 20 December 2004. Dr Dawa, the then General Secretary was the new incumbent Director and Dr Tsewang Tamdin, the then Director of the Pharmaceutical Department was the new Deputy Director of the MTK. The Director’s work is to oversee the administration and traditional aspects of the MTK and the Deputy Director has the responsibility to look after the cultural aspect of both medical and astrological sciences. The Men-Tsee-Khang staff congratu-lated both of them for their new responsibilities.
The outgoing Director Mr. Samdup Lhatse, who has been promoted to the post of Secretary and has been transferred to the Auditor General of CTA as its Secretary, expressed his happiness over their appointments. He believes the two incumbents will be able to perform their duties better than the CTA appointees. Since they are elected amongst from the staff of MTK no longer need extra time to get to know other staff & try to understand the nature of their jobs. This seems to be an added advantage of having appointed the heads of the MTK amongst from its staff. With the successful amendment of MTK rules & regulations, The Director and the Deputy Director believe they have an edge over the preceding Director. They also promised to undertake all the administrative work abiding the new rules & regulations that should not give any room for errors. The changes made in the rules & regulations have contributed in the better overall administration of the MTK.
The MTK has also revised the article to the ‘Memorandum of Association’, which was later notified to the local Indian administration.
The new MTK rules & regulations also amended the post of erstwhile General Secretary and renamed it ‘the Registrar’. The Governing Body unanimously elected Mr. Tsering Phuntsok, the then Assistant General Secretary, as the new Registrar of the MTK on 4 January 2005. The Registrar has to assist the Director in the administration work of the MTK. We wish him all the very best in his new assignment.

MTK formulates new medicine
The Men-Tsee-Khang’s Pharmaceutical Department formulated two new medicines Zathi-7 and Daeboo Sumthang, which are now being dispensed in the branch clinics of the Men-Tsee-Khang through out India and Nepal.

New products under trial
The Herbal Product Research Department has satisfactorily conducted clinical research trials on blood pressure and diabetes teas, which will soon be out for the interest of general public. Also under clinical trials are Loong, Tripa and Badkan lotions. It is hoped that these products will aid in treating patients along side medications.

Establishment of Astrological Research Section
Foreseeing a need to establish
a separate section of Astrological wing to undertake Hercules task of revising curriculums of Astrological College, to carry out research on Astrology and to impart the younger generation astrologers with in-depth knowledge on every aspects of Tibetan astrology, the administration established the Astrological Research Section on 24 November 2004. To necessitate such viable activities to be formulated systematically, the administration has set up a four-member committee comprising Astrologers Mr. Kunchok Tenzin, Mr. Dunchu Sonam, Dr Sonam Rinchen and Mr. Tenzin Sherab to work on the three major areas mentioned above under the rightful guidance of Tserampa Mr. Tsewang Namgyal.
On special request from the administration, Mr. Tsewang Namgyal accepted to visit Men-Tsee-Khang as a visiting advisor & professor. Mr. Tsewang Namgyal gives classes to the astrologers every second Thursday & Friday and every fourth Thursday & Friday for a total of 4 days a month. During his overnight stay he also guides the committee members on the research work.
The Committee has already finished the task on the revision of the College syllabus. The research work and the classes for the astrologers are currently in progress.
The administration is thankful to Mr. Tsewang Namgyal for his kind acceptance to make himself available for such indispensable works on the revival and improvement of astrological knowledge for the younger generations and for the benefit of people at large through this science.

Editorial and Publication Department changes name
Owing to a need to redirect the department’s work, the then Editorial & Publication Department changed its name to Sorig Literary Research Department (SLRD) w.e.f. 1 April 2004. The department now has Menrampa Pema Dorjee as its new Director. The earlier Director Menrampa Tsering Dorjee has been transferred to the Bir branch clinic as its CMO. Required staff shuffle has also been made to provide concrete base upon which the department would proceed further with its endeavour.
The objective of the department is to research on the traditional Tibetan medicine, especially on rare publications and do analytical study with other such publications. Other important objective is to revise the syllabus of the Tibetan Medical College.
The department has recently come out with a Tibetan-version-book on Acupuncture and moxabustion translated by Dr Tenzin Thaye. It is the first of its kind having been translated into Tibetan here at the MTK. The book contains 500 pages with detailed illustrations of acupuncture points. The persistence of Dr Tenzin Thaye and editing and designing assistance of SLRD has made the publication possible.
The administration hopes this publication will impart Tibetan doctors in acquiring additional knowledge of healing.

Expansion and construction
Owing to a growing demand for a Tibetan medical healthcare facilities, Men-Tsee-Khang (MTK) leaves no stone unturned for its quest to meet these demands, working on feasibility to provide better healthcare facilities. Be it construction of new clinics or holding occasional medical camps, these are all persuasions of the institution towards achieving its objective to provide traditional Tibetan healthcare facilities to all.
The MTK has been successful in establishing many new clinics through out India in association with other organizations. The administration is indeed thankful to all the people involved in the MTK’s charitable work.
As part of its expansion programme the construction of Salugara branch clinic and staff quarters were completed and the opening ceremony was done on 29 August 2004.
New Bir branch clinic and staff quarters completed its con-struction and opening ceremony done on 18 October 2004.
Mainpat branch clinic and staff quarters completed its con-struction and opening ceremony done on 21 January 2005.
The expansion work of Gangkyi branch clinic and Materia Medica Department was successfully done.