Merit-making ‘bad for monk’s health’
A healthcare training programme for monks and novices should be introduced to bolster efforts to promote better health in the monastic community, whose members often suffer from chronic health issues such as diabetes and hypertension, a seminar was told.
The programme, in which monks or novices are educated about healthcare, diet and nutrition, among other issues, was one of a series of proposals floated at a public forum in Chiang Mai to sound out opinions about the country’s healthcare policy. At the centre is how to promote better health among groups of people who have less access to the healthcare system such as the elderly, ethnic people, prisoners and monks.
Monks’ health issues have raised concerns with some blaming their unhealthy diets due to the food they are offered as alms by merit makers, along with insufficient exercise.
Phra Maha Insorn Khunawutthitho, one of the participants at the forum, said younger monks and novices are also at risk of falling into poor health, mainly because they are not free to choose what they eat.
He said they receive proper education and training on healthcare and a good diet to help the monastic community lead more healthy lives instead of relying on lay health volunteers.
He said in several villages merit makers are aware of the health problems and have taken action by preparing more nutritionally-balanced offerings.
Charan Trinwutthipong, chairman of the public hearing committee, said the proposal was similar to one floated by a group of monks at a public forum in Phitsanulok.
He said the monks suggested introducing a health promotion system designed especially for monks and novices with trained volunteers, noting that monks have been left to take care of their own health for the most part until now.
Merit makers should also be better educated on subjects like nutrition, he added.
Sutthipong Wasusopapol, assistant to the secretary-general of the NHC, said the health charter for monks, which was implemented early this year, is expected to bear fruit as it has been widely adopted.
About 20 provinces have been targeted in the early stage of implementation and it is expected to cover 40,000 of the nation’s 300,000 monks. The charter was unveiled at the 10th National Health Assembly in December and later endorsed by the Supreme Sangha Council.
The Public Health Ministry and National Health Security Office are helping with the health charter matter.