Empower Buddhist monks to bridge up the gap in Thai healthcare access
Dr. Prachaksvich Lebnak Deputy Secretary-General of National Health Security Office
Promoting healthcare access in vulnerable populations are one of the key strategies that the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has been highlighted since the launch of the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) in 2002.
We define vulnerable populations as people who can't access health services because of specific conditions such as ethnicity, undocumented status, being prisoners, or Buddhist monks.
Initially, the NHSO didn't include Buddhist monks in vulnerable populations. We thought that their livelihoods in temples were seemingly decent with good care from local communities.
In 2017, however, a group of monks conducted a survey on their members' health conditions that showed the otherwise situation — and it triggered us to change our strategy immediately.
The survey found that monk respondents had a high prevalence rate of non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes and hypertension. The rate was even higher than laypersons.
Monks also have little idea about the availability of free healthcare services covered by the UCS. According to the survey, around 80% of monk respondents were eligible for the UCS. But only one by three of them were aware of their health benefits.
Seventy percent of them had a false belief that the UCS was a charity that provided meager healthcare coverage. The survey also found out that if they were not severely sick, they wouldn't visit hospitals. Laypersons were the main sponsors of their monks' medical
fees.
Moreover, around 80% of the respondents had no idea about the NHSO's call center 1330 which is the easiest way for individuals to consult the NHSO staff about their UCS benefits.
Ninety-two percent had never heard of the Community Health Fund — the NHSO's program that encourages local government organizations to collaborate with the local community members, including monks, in health promotion and disease prevention.
This survey prompted the NHSO to put monks in a category of vulnerable populations. Then our team began reviewing the conditions and technical problems that obstructed monks from access the UCS benefits.
In general, the UCS members will be required to present Thai ID cards before requesting medical services at the hospitals. But several monks can't get the services because they hold expired ID cards, or they didn't use the cards for a long time until forgetting their identity numbers.
Moreover, many of them don't register themselves as monks or update their photos in the Thai civil registration system. This makes health providers feel reluctant to give services because of concerns for identity theft.
In recent years, monks are encouraged to participate in the Thai health system through the National Health Assembly led by the National Health Commission Office.
They worked with many health-relevant organizations, including the NHSO, to write "Health Charter for Buddhist Monks" that aims to promote health literacy and the capacity of monks to initiate health promotion activities.
The charter, which was implemented in 2017, provides a guideline for the NHSO to set up two goals.
First, we must collaborate with the government agencies to help individuals update their monk status, addressed, and personal details in the civil registration database. So their identities can be verified when they request medical services from the hospitals.
Second, we must increase monks' health literacy and their awareness of the UCS benefits. Monks are influential thinkers in Thai society. If they have good health knowledge, they can influence local communities to promote good health and prevent diseases.
To achieve the goals, we're trying to expand our collaboration and form up a network with monks.
We've launched a series of training to establish a network of "monk health volunteers," who will have a capacity to look after the health of their peers in temples while educating them about health promotion and disease prevention.
We hope to see at least one monk health volunteer in every 5,000 temples by next year. There are around 40,000 temples across Thailand, which means that we must work on this network expansion for many consecutive years.
The network of monks can help us achieve the task of monk registration. We will also encourage them to improve the temples' environment for the benefits of good health, such as doing mosquito control and improving hygiene.
In the future, we plan to pursue the "One temple, one sub-district hospital" program, in which monks will be registered with hospitals near their temples so they can access healthcare services and medical checkups regularly. This is similar to the family doctor program, which the Public Health Minister has currently initiated.
We believe that if monks are empowered, they will become our great partners in the future.
They can play a significant role in the Thai healthcare system because they have close relationships with local communities and have power over people's thoughts. For example, they can get involved in palliative care by integrating the teachings of Buddha into the mitigation of suffering among seriously-ill patients.
Members of vulnerable populations have the potential to lead the improvement of the UCS and the Thai health system. They are the key partners that help us achieve inclusive healthcare that leaves no one behind.
Promoting healthcare access in vulnerable populations are one of the key strategies that the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has been highlighted since the launch of the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) in 2002.
We define vulnerable populations as people who can't access health services because of specific conditions such as ethnicity, undocumented status, being prisoners, or Buddhist monks.
Initially, the NHSO didn't include Buddhist monks in vulnerable populations. We thought that their livelihoods in temples were seemingly decent with good care from local communities.
In 2017, however, a group of monks conducted a survey on their members' health conditions that showed the otherwise situation — and it triggered us to change our strategy immediately.
The survey found that monk respondents had a high prevalence rate of non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes and hypertension. The rate was even higher than laypersons.
Monks also have little idea about the availability of free healthcare services covered by the UCS. According to the survey, around 80% of monk respondents were eligible for the UCS. But only one by three of them were aware of their health benefits.
Seventy percent of them had a false belief that the UCS was a charity that provided meager healthcare coverage. The survey also found out that if they were not severely sick, they wouldn't visit hospitals. Laypersons were the main sponsors of their monks' medical
fees.
Moreover, around 80% of the respondents had no idea about the NHSO's call center 1330 which is the easiest way for individuals to consult the NHSO staff about their UCS benefits.
Ninety-two percent had never heard of the Community Health Fund — the NHSO's program that encourages local government organizations to collaborate with the local community members, including monks, in health promotion and disease prevention.
This survey prompted the NHSO to put monks in a category of vulnerable populations. Then our team began reviewing the conditions and technical problems that obstructed monks from access the UCS benefits.
In general, the UCS members will be required to present Thai ID cards before requesting medical services at the hospitals. But several monks can't get the services because they hold expired ID cards, or they didn't use the cards for a long time until forgetting their identity numbers.
Moreover, many of them don't register themselves as monks or update their photos in the Thai civil registration system. This makes health providers feel reluctant to give services because of concerns for identity theft.
In recent years, monks are encouraged to participate in the Thai health system through the National Health Assembly led by the National Health Commission Office.
They worked with many health-relevant organizations, including the NHSO, to write "Health Charter for Buddhist Monks" that aims to promote health literacy and the capacity of monks to initiate health promotion activities.
The charter, which was implemented in 2017, provides a guideline for the NHSO to set up two goals.
First, we must collaborate with the government agencies to help individuals update their monk status, addressed, and personal details in the civil registration database. So their identities can be verified when they request medical services from the hospitals.
Second, we must increase monks' health literacy and their awareness of the UCS benefits. Monks are influential thinkers in Thai society. If they have good health knowledge, they can influence local communities to promote good health and prevent diseases.
To achieve the goals, we're trying to expand our collaboration and form up a network with monks.
We've launched a series of training to establish a network of "monk health volunteers," who will have a capacity to look after the health of their peers in temples while educating them about health promotion and disease prevention.
We hope to see at least one monk health volunteer in every 5,000 temples by next year. There are around 40,000 temples across Thailand, which means that we must work on this network expansion for many consecutive years.
The network of monks can help us achieve the task of monk registration. We will also encourage them to improve the temples' environment for the benefits of good health, such as doing mosquito control and improving hygiene.
In the future, we plan to pursue the "One temple, one sub-district hospital" program, in which monks will be registered with hospitals near their temples so they can access healthcare services and medical checkups regularly. This is similar to the family doctor program, which the Public Health Minister has currently initiated.
We believe that if monks are empowered, they will become our great partners in the future.
They can play a significant role in the Thai healthcare system because they have close relationships with local communities and have power over people's thoughts. For example, they can get involved in palliative care by integrating the teachings of Buddha into the mitigation of suffering among seriously-ill patients.
Members of vulnerable populations have the potential to lead the improvement of the UCS and the Thai health system. They are the key partners that help us achieve inclusive healthcare that leaves no one behind.
IN DEPTH
Empower Buddhist monks to bridge up the gap in Thai healthcare access
Dr. Prachaksvich Lebnak Deputy Secretary-General of National Health Security Office
Promoting healthcare access in vulnerable populations are one of the key strategies that the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has been highlighted since the launch of the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) in 2002.
We define vulnerable populations as people who can't access health services because of specific conditions such as ethnicity, undocumented status, being prisoners, or Buddhist monks.
Initially, the NHSO didn't include Buddhist monks in vulnerable populations. We thought that their livelihoods in temples were seemingly decent with good care from local communities.
In 2017, however, a group of monks conducted a survey on their members' health conditions that showed the otherwise situation — and it triggered us to change our strategy immediately.
The survey found that monk respondents had a high prevalence rate of non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes and hypertension. The rate was even higher than laypersons.
Monks also have little idea about the availability of free healthcare services covered by the UCS. According to the survey, around 80% of monk respondents were eligible for the UCS. But only one by three of them were aware of their health benefits.
Seventy percent of them had a false belief that the UCS was a charity that provided meager healthcare coverage. The survey also found out that if they were not severely sick, they wouldn't visit hospitals. Laypersons were the main sponsors of their monks' medical
fees.
Moreover, around 80% of the respondents had no idea about the NHSO's call center 1330 which is the easiest way for individuals to consult the NHSO staff about their UCS benefits.
Ninety-two percent had never heard of the Community Health Fund — the NHSO's program that encourages local government organizations to collaborate with the local community members, including monks, in health promotion and disease prevention.
This survey prompted the NHSO to put monks in a category of vulnerable populations. Then our team began reviewing the conditions and technical problems that obstructed monks from access the UCS benefits.
In general, the UCS members will be required to present Thai ID cards before requesting medical services at the hospitals. But several monks can't get the services because they hold expired ID cards, or they didn't use the cards for a long time until forgetting their identity numbers.
Moreover, many of them don't register themselves as monks or update their photos in the Thai civil registration system. This makes health providers feel reluctant to give services because of concerns for identity theft.
In recent years, monks are encouraged to participate in the Thai health system through the National Health Assembly led by the National Health Commission Office.
They worked with many health-relevant organizations, including the NHSO, to write "Health Charter for Buddhist Monks" that aims to promote health literacy and the capacity of monks to initiate health promotion activities.
The charter, which was implemented in 2017, provides a guideline for the NHSO to set up two goals.
First, we must collaborate with the government agencies to help individuals update their monk status, addressed, and personal details in the civil registration database. So their identities can be verified when they request medical services from the hospitals.
Second, we must increase monks' health literacy and their awareness of the UCS benefits. Monks are influential thinkers in Thai society. If they have good health knowledge, they can influence local communities to promote good health and prevent diseases.
To achieve the goals, we're trying to expand our collaboration and form up a network with monks.
We've launched a series of training to establish a network of "monk health volunteers," who will have a capacity to look after the health of their peers in temples while educating them about health promotion and disease prevention.
We hope to see at least one monk health volunteer in every 5,000 temples by next year. There are around 40,000 temples across Thailand, which means that we must work on this network expansion for many consecutive years.
The network of monks can help us achieve the task of monk registration. We will also encourage them to improve the temples' environment for the benefits of good health, such as doing mosquito control and improving hygiene.
In the future, we plan to pursue the "One temple, one sub-district hospital" program, in which monks will be registered with hospitals near their temples so they can access healthcare services and medical checkups regularly. This is similar to the family doctor program, which the Public Health Minister has currently initiated.
We believe that if monks are empowered, they will become our great partners in the future.
They can play a significant role in the Thai healthcare system because they have close relationships with local communities and have power over people's thoughts. For example, they can get involved in palliative care by integrating the teachings of Buddha into the mitigation of suffering among seriously-ill patients.
Members of vulnerable populations have the potential to lead the improvement of the UCS and the Thai health system. They are the key partners that help us achieve inclusive healthcare that leaves no one behind.
Promoting healthcare access in vulnerable populations are one of the key strategies that the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has been highlighted since the launch of the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) in 2002.
We define vulnerable populations as people who can't access health services because of specific conditions such as ethnicity, undocumented status, being prisoners, or Buddhist monks.
Initially, the NHSO didn't include Buddhist monks in vulnerable populations. We thought that their livelihoods in temples were seemingly decent with good care from local communities.
In 2017, however, a group of monks conducted a survey on their members' health conditions that showed the otherwise situation — and it triggered us to change our strategy immediately.
The survey found that monk respondents had a high prevalence rate of non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes and hypertension. The rate was even higher than laypersons.
Monks also have little idea about the availability of free healthcare services covered by the UCS. According to the survey, around 80% of monk respondents were eligible for the UCS. But only one by three of them were aware of their health benefits.
Seventy percent of them had a false belief that the UCS was a charity that provided meager healthcare coverage. The survey also found out that if they were not severely sick, they wouldn't visit hospitals. Laypersons were the main sponsors of their monks' medical
fees.
Moreover, around 80% of the respondents had no idea about the NHSO's call center 1330 which is the easiest way for individuals to consult the NHSO staff about their UCS benefits.
Ninety-two percent had never heard of the Community Health Fund — the NHSO's program that encourages local government organizations to collaborate with the local community members, including monks, in health promotion and disease prevention.
This survey prompted the NHSO to put monks in a category of vulnerable populations. Then our team began reviewing the conditions and technical problems that obstructed monks from access the UCS benefits.
In general, the UCS members will be required to present Thai ID cards before requesting medical services at the hospitals. But several monks can't get the services because they hold expired ID cards, or they didn't use the cards for a long time until forgetting their identity numbers.
Moreover, many of them don't register themselves as monks or update their photos in the Thai civil registration system. This makes health providers feel reluctant to give services because of concerns for identity theft.
In recent years, monks are encouraged to participate in the Thai health system through the National Health Assembly led by the National Health Commission Office.
They worked with many health-relevant organizations, including the NHSO, to write "Health Charter for Buddhist Monks" that aims to promote health literacy and the capacity of monks to initiate health promotion activities.
The charter, which was implemented in 2017, provides a guideline for the NHSO to set up two goals.
First, we must collaborate with the government agencies to help individuals update their monk status, addressed, and personal details in the civil registration database. So their identities can be verified when they request medical services from the hospitals.
Second, we must increase monks' health literacy and their awareness of the UCS benefits. Monks are influential thinkers in Thai society. If they have good health knowledge, they can influence local communities to promote good health and prevent diseases.
To achieve the goals, we're trying to expand our collaboration and form up a network with monks.
We've launched a series of training to establish a network of "monk health volunteers," who will have a capacity to look after the health of their peers in temples while educating them about health promotion and disease prevention.
We hope to see at least one monk health volunteer in every 5,000 temples by next year. There are around 40,000 temples across Thailand, which means that we must work on this network expansion for many consecutive years.
The network of monks can help us achieve the task of monk registration. We will also encourage them to improve the temples' environment for the benefits of good health, such as doing mosquito control and improving hygiene.
In the future, we plan to pursue the "One temple, one sub-district hospital" program, in which monks will be registered with hospitals near their temples so they can access healthcare services and medical checkups regularly. This is similar to the family doctor program, which the Public Health Minister has currently initiated.
We believe that if monks are empowered, they will become our great partners in the future.
They can play a significant role in the Thai healthcare system because they have close relationships with local communities and have power over people's thoughts. For example, they can get involved in palliative care by integrating the teachings of Buddha into the mitigation of suffering among seriously-ill patients.
Members of vulnerable populations have the potential to lead the improvement of the UCS and the Thai health system. They are the key partners that help us achieve inclusive healthcare that leaves no one behind.
Events
Empower Buddhist monks to bridge up the gap in Thai healthcare access
Dr. Prachaksvich Lebnak Deputy Secretary-General of National Health Security Office
Promoting healthcare access in vulnerable populations are one of the key strategies that the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has been highlighted since the launch of the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) in 2002.
We define vulnerable populations as people who can't access health services because of specific conditions such as ethnicity, undocumented status, being prisoners, or Buddhist monks.
Initially, the NHSO didn't include Buddhist monks in vulnerable populations. We thought that their livelihoods in temples were seemingly decent with good care from local communities.
In 2017, however, a group of monks conducted a survey on their members' health conditions that showed the otherwise situation — and it triggered us to change our strategy immediately.
The survey found that monk respondents had a high prevalence rate of non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes and hypertension. The rate was even higher than laypersons.
Monks also have little idea about the availability of free healthcare services covered by the UCS. According to the survey, around 80% of monk respondents were eligible for the UCS. But only one by three of them were aware of their health benefits.
Seventy percent of them had a false belief that the UCS was a charity that provided meager healthcare coverage. The survey also found out that if they were not severely sick, they wouldn't visit hospitals. Laypersons were the main sponsors of their monks' medical
fees.
Moreover, around 80% of the respondents had no idea about the NHSO's call center 1330 which is the easiest way for individuals to consult the NHSO staff about their UCS benefits.
Ninety-two percent had never heard of the Community Health Fund — the NHSO's program that encourages local government organizations to collaborate with the local community members, including monks, in health promotion and disease prevention.
This survey prompted the NHSO to put monks in a category of vulnerable populations. Then our team began reviewing the conditions and technical problems that obstructed monks from access the UCS benefits.
In general, the UCS members will be required to present Thai ID cards before requesting medical services at the hospitals. But several monks can't get the services because they hold expired ID cards, or they didn't use the cards for a long time until forgetting their identity numbers.
Moreover, many of them don't register themselves as monks or update their photos in the Thai civil registration system. This makes health providers feel reluctant to give services because of concerns for identity theft.
In recent years, monks are encouraged to participate in the Thai health system through the National Health Assembly led by the National Health Commission Office.
They worked with many health-relevant organizations, including the NHSO, to write "Health Charter for Buddhist Monks" that aims to promote health literacy and the capacity of monks to initiate health promotion activities.
The charter, which was implemented in 2017, provides a guideline for the NHSO to set up two goals.
First, we must collaborate with the government agencies to help individuals update their monk status, addressed, and personal details in the civil registration database. So their identities can be verified when they request medical services from the hospitals.
Second, we must increase monks' health literacy and their awareness of the UCS benefits. Monks are influential thinkers in Thai society. If they have good health knowledge, they can influence local communities to promote good health and prevent diseases.
To achieve the goals, we're trying to expand our collaboration and form up a network with monks.
We've launched a series of training to establish a network of "monk health volunteers," who will have a capacity to look after the health of their peers in temples while educating them about health promotion and disease prevention.
We hope to see at least one monk health volunteer in every 5,000 temples by next year. There are around 40,000 temples across Thailand, which means that we must work on this network expansion for many consecutive years.
The network of monks can help us achieve the task of monk registration. We will also encourage them to improve the temples' environment for the benefits of good health, such as doing mosquito control and improving hygiene.
In the future, we plan to pursue the "One temple, one sub-district hospital" program, in which monks will be registered with hospitals near their temples so they can access healthcare services and medical checkups regularly. This is similar to the family doctor program, which the Public Health Minister has currently initiated.
We believe that if monks are empowered, they will become our great partners in the future.
They can play a significant role in the Thai healthcare system because they have close relationships with local communities and have power over people's thoughts. For example, they can get involved in palliative care by integrating the teachings of Buddha into the mitigation of suffering among seriously-ill patients.
Members of vulnerable populations have the potential to lead the improvement of the UCS and the Thai health system. They are the key partners that help us achieve inclusive healthcare that leaves no one behind.
Promoting healthcare access in vulnerable populations are one of the key strategies that the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has been highlighted since the launch of the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) in 2002.
We define vulnerable populations as people who can't access health services because of specific conditions such as ethnicity, undocumented status, being prisoners, or Buddhist monks.
Initially, the NHSO didn't include Buddhist monks in vulnerable populations. We thought that their livelihoods in temples were seemingly decent with good care from local communities.
In 2017, however, a group of monks conducted a survey on their members' health conditions that showed the otherwise situation — and it triggered us to change our strategy immediately.
The survey found that monk respondents had a high prevalence rate of non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes and hypertension. The rate was even higher than laypersons.
Monks also have little idea about the availability of free healthcare services covered by the UCS. According to the survey, around 80% of monk respondents were eligible for the UCS. But only one by three of them were aware of their health benefits.
Seventy percent of them had a false belief that the UCS was a charity that provided meager healthcare coverage. The survey also found out that if they were not severely sick, they wouldn't visit hospitals. Laypersons were the main sponsors of their monks' medical
fees.
Moreover, around 80% of the respondents had no idea about the NHSO's call center 1330 which is the easiest way for individuals to consult the NHSO staff about their UCS benefits.
Ninety-two percent had never heard of the Community Health Fund — the NHSO's program that encourages local government organizations to collaborate with the local community members, including monks, in health promotion and disease prevention.
This survey prompted the NHSO to put monks in a category of vulnerable populations. Then our team began reviewing the conditions and technical problems that obstructed monks from access the UCS benefits.
In general, the UCS members will be required to present Thai ID cards before requesting medical services at the hospitals. But several monks can't get the services because they hold expired ID cards, or they didn't use the cards for a long time until forgetting their identity numbers.
Moreover, many of them don't register themselves as monks or update their photos in the Thai civil registration system. This makes health providers feel reluctant to give services because of concerns for identity theft.
In recent years, monks are encouraged to participate in the Thai health system through the National Health Assembly led by the National Health Commission Office.
They worked with many health-relevant organizations, including the NHSO, to write "Health Charter for Buddhist Monks" that aims to promote health literacy and the capacity of monks to initiate health promotion activities.
The charter, which was implemented in 2017, provides a guideline for the NHSO to set up two goals.
First, we must collaborate with the government agencies to help individuals update their monk status, addressed, and personal details in the civil registration database. So their identities can be verified when they request medical services from the hospitals.
Second, we must increase monks' health literacy and their awareness of the UCS benefits. Monks are influential thinkers in Thai society. If they have good health knowledge, they can influence local communities to promote good health and prevent diseases.
To achieve the goals, we're trying to expand our collaboration and form up a network with monks.
We've launched a series of training to establish a network of "monk health volunteers," who will have a capacity to look after the health of their peers in temples while educating them about health promotion and disease prevention.
We hope to see at least one monk health volunteer in every 5,000 temples by next year. There are around 40,000 temples across Thailand, which means that we must work on this network expansion for many consecutive years.
The network of monks can help us achieve the task of monk registration. We will also encourage them to improve the temples' environment for the benefits of good health, such as doing mosquito control and improving hygiene.
In the future, we plan to pursue the "One temple, one sub-district hospital" program, in which monks will be registered with hospitals near their temples so they can access healthcare services and medical checkups regularly. This is similar to the family doctor program, which the Public Health Minister has currently initiated.
We believe that if monks are empowered, they will become our great partners in the future.
They can play a significant role in the Thai healthcare system because they have close relationships with local communities and have power over people's thoughts. For example, they can get involved in palliative care by integrating the teachings of Buddha into the mitigation of suffering among seriously-ill patients.
Members of vulnerable populations have the potential to lead the improvement of the UCS and the Thai health system. They are the key partners that help us achieve inclusive healthcare that leaves no one behind.
RESOURCE CENTER
SECRETARY-GENERAL
Empower Buddhist monks to bridge up the gap in Thai healthcare access
Dr. Prachaksvich Lebnak Deputy Secretary-General of National Health Security Office
Promoting healthcare access in vulnerable populations are one of the key strategies that the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has been highlighted since the launch of the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) in 2002.
We define vulnerable populations as people who can't access health services because of specific conditions such as ethnicity, undocumented status, being prisoners, or Buddhist monks.
Initially, the NHSO didn't include Buddhist monks in vulnerable populations. We thought that their livelihoods in temples were seemingly decent with good care from local communities.
In 2017, however, a group of monks conducted a survey on their members' health conditions that showed the otherwise situation — and it triggered us to change our strategy immediately.
The survey found that monk respondents had a high prevalence rate of non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes and hypertension. The rate was even higher than laypersons.
Monks also have little idea about the availability of free healthcare services covered by the UCS. According to the survey, around 80% of monk respondents were eligible for the UCS. But only one by three of them were aware of their health benefits.
Seventy percent of them had a false belief that the UCS was a charity that provided meager healthcare coverage. The survey also found out that if they were not severely sick, they wouldn't visit hospitals. Laypersons were the main sponsors of their monks' medical
fees.
Moreover, around 80% of the respondents had no idea about the NHSO's call center 1330 which is the easiest way for individuals to consult the NHSO staff about their UCS benefits.
Ninety-two percent had never heard of the Community Health Fund — the NHSO's program that encourages local government organizations to collaborate with the local community members, including monks, in health promotion and disease prevention.
This survey prompted the NHSO to put monks in a category of vulnerable populations. Then our team began reviewing the conditions and technical problems that obstructed monks from access the UCS benefits.
In general, the UCS members will be required to present Thai ID cards before requesting medical services at the hospitals. But several monks can't get the services because they hold expired ID cards, or they didn't use the cards for a long time until forgetting their identity numbers.
Moreover, many of them don't register themselves as monks or update their photos in the Thai civil registration system. This makes health providers feel reluctant to give services because of concerns for identity theft.
In recent years, monks are encouraged to participate in the Thai health system through the National Health Assembly led by the National Health Commission Office.
They worked with many health-relevant organizations, including the NHSO, to write "Health Charter for Buddhist Monks" that aims to promote health literacy and the capacity of monks to initiate health promotion activities.
The charter, which was implemented in 2017, provides a guideline for the NHSO to set up two goals.
First, we must collaborate with the government agencies to help individuals update their monk status, addressed, and personal details in the civil registration database. So their identities can be verified when they request medical services from the hospitals.
Second, we must increase monks' health literacy and their awareness of the UCS benefits. Monks are influential thinkers in Thai society. If they have good health knowledge, they can influence local communities to promote good health and prevent diseases.
To achieve the goals, we're trying to expand our collaboration and form up a network with monks.
We've launched a series of training to establish a network of "monk health volunteers," who will have a capacity to look after the health of their peers in temples while educating them about health promotion and disease prevention.
We hope to see at least one monk health volunteer in every 5,000 temples by next year. There are around 40,000 temples across Thailand, which means that we must work on this network expansion for many consecutive years.
The network of monks can help us achieve the task of monk registration. We will also encourage them to improve the temples' environment for the benefits of good health, such as doing mosquito control and improving hygiene.
In the future, we plan to pursue the "One temple, one sub-district hospital" program, in which monks will be registered with hospitals near their temples so they can access healthcare services and medical checkups regularly. This is similar to the family doctor program, which the Public Health Minister has currently initiated.
We believe that if monks are empowered, they will become our great partners in the future.
They can play a significant role in the Thai healthcare system because they have close relationships with local communities and have power over people's thoughts. For example, they can get involved in palliative care by integrating the teachings of Buddha into the mitigation of suffering among seriously-ill patients.
Members of vulnerable populations have the potential to lead the improvement of the UCS and the Thai health system. They are the key partners that help us achieve inclusive healthcare that leaves no one behind.
Promoting healthcare access in vulnerable populations are one of the key strategies that the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has been highlighted since the launch of the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) in 2002.
We define vulnerable populations as people who can't access health services because of specific conditions such as ethnicity, undocumented status, being prisoners, or Buddhist monks.
Initially, the NHSO didn't include Buddhist monks in vulnerable populations. We thought that their livelihoods in temples were seemingly decent with good care from local communities.
In 2017, however, a group of monks conducted a survey on their members' health conditions that showed the otherwise situation — and it triggered us to change our strategy immediately.
The survey found that monk respondents had a high prevalence rate of non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes and hypertension. The rate was even higher than laypersons.
Monks also have little idea about the availability of free healthcare services covered by the UCS. According to the survey, around 80% of monk respondents were eligible for the UCS. But only one by three of them were aware of their health benefits.
Seventy percent of them had a false belief that the UCS was a charity that provided meager healthcare coverage. The survey also found out that if they were not severely sick, they wouldn't visit hospitals. Laypersons were the main sponsors of their monks' medical
fees.
Moreover, around 80% of the respondents had no idea about the NHSO's call center 1330 which is the easiest way for individuals to consult the NHSO staff about their UCS benefits.
Ninety-two percent had never heard of the Community Health Fund — the NHSO's program that encourages local government organizations to collaborate with the local community members, including monks, in health promotion and disease prevention.
This survey prompted the NHSO to put monks in a category of vulnerable populations. Then our team began reviewing the conditions and technical problems that obstructed monks from access the UCS benefits.
In general, the UCS members will be required to present Thai ID cards before requesting medical services at the hospitals. But several monks can't get the services because they hold expired ID cards, or they didn't use the cards for a long time until forgetting their identity numbers.
Moreover, many of them don't register themselves as monks or update their photos in the Thai civil registration system. This makes health providers feel reluctant to give services because of concerns for identity theft.
In recent years, monks are encouraged to participate in the Thai health system through the National Health Assembly led by the National Health Commission Office.
They worked with many health-relevant organizations, including the NHSO, to write "Health Charter for Buddhist Monks" that aims to promote health literacy and the capacity of monks to initiate health promotion activities.
The charter, which was implemented in 2017, provides a guideline for the NHSO to set up two goals.
First, we must collaborate with the government agencies to help individuals update their monk status, addressed, and personal details in the civil registration database. So their identities can be verified when they request medical services from the hospitals.
Second, we must increase monks' health literacy and their awareness of the UCS benefits. Monks are influential thinkers in Thai society. If they have good health knowledge, they can influence local communities to promote good health and prevent diseases.
To achieve the goals, we're trying to expand our collaboration and form up a network with monks.
We've launched a series of training to establish a network of "monk health volunteers," who will have a capacity to look after the health of their peers in temples while educating them about health promotion and disease prevention.
We hope to see at least one monk health volunteer in every 5,000 temples by next year. There are around 40,000 temples across Thailand, which means that we must work on this network expansion for many consecutive years.
The network of monks can help us achieve the task of monk registration. We will also encourage them to improve the temples' environment for the benefits of good health, such as doing mosquito control and improving hygiene.
In the future, we plan to pursue the "One temple, one sub-district hospital" program, in which monks will be registered with hospitals near their temples so they can access healthcare services and medical checkups regularly. This is similar to the family doctor program, which the Public Health Minister has currently initiated.
We believe that if monks are empowered, they will become our great partners in the future.
They can play a significant role in the Thai healthcare system because they have close relationships with local communities and have power over people's thoughts. For example, they can get involved in palliative care by integrating the teachings of Buddha into the mitigation of suffering among seriously-ill patients.
Members of vulnerable populations have the potential to lead the improvement of the UCS and the Thai health system. They are the key partners that help us achieve inclusive healthcare that leaves no one behind.
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Thailand's UHC Journey