The Public Health Ministry is spending Bt100 million to improve the health of more than 300,000 Buddhist monks and novices to mark the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne this year.

Caretaker Public Health Minister Pinij Charusombat said yesterday the ministry was working with the National Health Security Office, the Sangha Supreme Council, the National Buddhism Office, the Priest Hospital Foundation and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Health Office on the project.

It was launched in February and will conclude in December next year.

"This is the country's first healthcare 'revolution' for Buddhist monks and novices, covering physical and mental health as well as environmental hygiene and risk factors in monasteries," Pinij said. The project will cover 34,764 temples and 333,766 monks and novices, he said.

An initial survey found that over half of all monks and novices had health problems, Pinij said. Of these, 17 per cent had eyesight problems, 6 per cent had partial memory loss, 5 per cent suffered high blood pressure and diabetes, 5 per cent were unable to bend their knees as a result of arthritis and 27 per cent were smokers.

Medical Services Department director-general Dr Chatri Bancheun said the project would provide free check-ups and treatment for monks.

The project is being implemented in three stages. The first is a pilot project at 28 Bangkok temples with 2,482 monks and novices, which is currently in the phase of studying data already collected. In the second stage, the project will be extended to the remaining 405 Bangkok temples, with 15,459 monks and novices, by December. The third stage will see the project extended to 34,331 temples nationwide next year.

Over the long term, officials will conduct evaluation visits twice a year and health check-ups every three to five years, Chatri said.

Monks suffering from final-stage osteoarthritis of the knee will receive free artificial knee implants, Chatri said. Five such operations have already been done.

As the project was initiated to mark the auspicious occasion of His Majesty's anniversary and is for the benefit of monks and novices, Buddhists nationwide are encouraged to donate money to the project at Priest Hospital on Bangkok's Sri Ayutthaya Road, Chatri said. For more information call (02) 640-9537 ext 1308, 1310 or 1318 during office hours.