A Model for Enhancing the Effectiveness of Monks’ Holistic Health Care in the Upper Central Province

Abstract

The research objectives of the Model to Enhance the Effectiveness of Monks’ Holistic Health Care in the Upper Central Provinces were 1) to study the context and problems of holistic health care among monks in the upper central province 2) to find an effective model of monks’ holistic health care in this upper central region and 3) to propose guidelines for improving the effectiveness of holistic health care for monks in the upper central region. The key informants of this study were 5 persons from the knowledgeable groups, namely Chairperson of the Committee on the National Sangha Health Constitution Act 2017, Ordination Division, Layman Division, Public Health Office Food and Drug Administration, The National Buddhism Office and others, the practitioners’ group including 35 monks in the upper central region, and 5 participants from Hospitals, the Provincial Buddhism Office, Provincial Cultural Office, Sub-District Health Promoting Hospitals, Schools, Municipalities, Sub-district Administrative Organizations, Upasaka, Upasikas, and other stakeholders. In-depth interviews and focus groups were undertaken for data collection and substance analysis was carried out.
The results of the study showed that management of monks’ holistic health care should be divided into two parts: administration of the construction of the Buddha image and administration of the temple involving self-management, people management, and temple management. Ten-rules Vatta should be used for self-management. For people management, firstly, people should be divided into two groups: inside and outside temples. Then, Dosaphitharathamma principle should be applied to manage people inside the temple, while five principles of laymen administration as prescribed by the Sangha Sangha, 6 aspects should be adopted for managing outside temple people.
The research findings conveyed several suggestions. First, some regulations that cause problems in the operation should be changed in order to be carried out more agilely and quickly. Second, setting up a work unit directly responsible for managing monks’ health problem, leading to effective and continuous management.