Dharamshala, 25 March 2026: Chaired by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, the ninth day of the eleventh session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile commenced with deliberations on, and the subsequent approval of, the budget for the Department of Health (DoHe).

Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the current Kalon of the Department of Health, responded to questions raised by members of the House. These covered a range of issues, including Men-Tsee-Khang’s guidelines for graduates on setting up private clinics within a designated radius of existing branches; initiatives to promote mental health awareness in Tibetan communities; possibilities for collaboration between Department of Health clinics and local hospitals across settlements; and measures being taken to address the rising prevalence of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. He also responded to additional queries related to the department’s budget.

The House expressed its appreciation for the free medical camps organized and the healthcare services provided in honour of the 90th birth anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which has been designated as the Year of Compassion by the Central Tibetan Administration.

This was followed by the approval of the budgets for healthcare institutions under the Department of Health, including Tso-Jhe Hospital, the Delhi Health Clinic, the Sonada Health Clinic, and the Ngeonga School for Tibetan Children with Special Needs.

Today’s Zero Hour was taken by parliamentarian Geshe Lharampa Gowo Lobsang Phende.

Continuing with the legislative procedure, the House proceeded with the second reading of the Rules and Regulations for Parliamentary Procedures and the Conduct of Business. The bill had previously been deferred during the 9th session in March and the 10th session in September of the preceding year.

During the proceedings, the proposed amendment, as well as the first-degree and second-degree amendments, failed to receive the requisite votes and were therefore repealed.

The budgets of the Tibetan Reception Centres in Nepal, Sonauli, and Dharamshala, under the Department of Security (DoS), were passed respectively.

The House then continued with the deliberation of the budget for the Department of Education (DoE). Kalon Changra Tharlam Dolma of the Department of Education addressed queries raised in the House regarding the process of providing books to Tibetan children particularly students of Tibetan weekend language schools in the West, the production of educational cartoons to foster interest in the Tibetan language among young learners, and other queries on the department’s budget.

The deliberation on the budget of the DoE will continue in tomorrow’s seating.

The session adjourned at 5:00 pm.