In the past all medicines were produced manually. Small scale mechanised production started only in 1982 with support from World Health Organisation.From 1998 onwards, the manufacturing Unit was upgraded to the Pharmaceutical and Research Unit (PRU) through EC funding and now all products are produced mechanically following Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) with more emphasis on Quality Control. Unlike modern drugs, traditional medicine in Bhutan is purely an indigenous product as its source, processing know-how, and the human resource capacity are all available in the country. Our preparations are purely natural and no chemicals are used.

As Traditional medicines are an integral part of the national healthcare system, timely supply of effective traditional medicine in sufficient quantity plays a crucial role in the delivery of quality services. With the commissioning of the Pharmaceutical and Research Unit, shortage of traditional medicines has been significantly reduced.

The Pharmaceutical and Research Unit has three main sections:-Production, Research and Quality Control and Marketing.