Capacity Development and Standardization Implementation of Buddhist Health Insurance Coordination Mechanism to Increase its Perception of Universal Health Coverage of Monks

Abstract

Introduction:  Capacity development and standardized implementation of Buddhist health insurance for monks enabled them to gain a greater perception and accessibility of universal health coverage leading to better quality of life.

Research objectives: To develop and evaluate the capacity development and standardized implementation of the Buddhist health insurance coordination mechanism for monks.  This is to increase the perception of the right for the monk’s health insurance.

Research methodology: This is an action research. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit participants  from 4 regions (northern, central, north-eastern, and southern regions).  The participants were: 1) 108 monks who related to the perception of  Buddhist health insurance for monks; and 2)  15 responsible monksand officers.  Data were collected using questionnaires and focus groups. Research instruments consisted of the module and a handbook for the Buddhist Health Security Coordination Center,  questionnaire about the perception of the right regarding Buddhist health insurance, and the satisfaction assessment.  Content validity was acceptable (IOC= 0.6 -1.00). Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequency distribution, content analysis, and paired sample t-tests.   

Results: 1) Offering knowledge, and module contents, screening health problems, developing a health database, and reinforcing networking were requested for the monks to develop their capacity and implementation of standardization of the Buddhist health insurance coordination mechanism.

2) The module for developing the potential mentioned above consisted of 4 steps; step 1 sharing proposals, step 2 organizing workshop activities, step 3 health screening, and step 4 networking building. 3) The score level of the perception to access health service for the monk was high (Mean= 3.80, SD= 0.10). At follow-up, the score of perception to access health service for the monk was statistically significantly higher than at baseline  (t = 14.57, p = .005).    

Conclusions: The module for capacity development and standardized implementation of coordinating mechanisms for Buddhist health insurance composed of sharing proposals to develop the module first and then organizing an operational meeting workshop for working together. In addition, screening health problems and networking building were also utilized to develop the monk’s competency as well.  

Implications: The module should be utilized to develop the monk’ capacity and standardized implementation of Buddhist health insurance. However, the module might be modified to fit its context and followed up in the long-term.