Buddhist Temple Halts HIV Patient Admissions Due to Financial Strain
Wat Phra Baht Nam Phu in Lopburi has stopped accepting new HIV patients due to financial strain, despite serving roughly 200 staff and existing patients with monthly costs around 200,000 baht.
Wat Phra Baht Nam Phu in Khao Samyod subdistrict, Muang district, Lopburi, has declared it is unable to accept additional HIV patients due to the heavy burden of caring for existing patients and approximately 200 staff members. The temple's acting abbot, Phra Kru Suwat Kittisarn from Wat Sammarakluea, disclosed that the facility continues to shoulder care responsibilities despite limited and declining income. Monthly expenses for caring for AIDS patients and staff, including utilities, electricity, fuel, and food, total around 200,000 baht. Although the temple receives ongoing inquiries from AIDS patients and their relatives seeking admission, overseeing authorities have prohibited accepting new patients due to mounting financial obligations. The abbot appealed to Thai citizens to exercise self-discipline to avoid infection, warning that HIV carries lifelong consequences. Staff member Sompon Somakhaeng noted that the temple receives daily calls from relatives and patients but must direct them to government-provided treatment channels instead. He expressed concern that patients unable to access state healthcare due to travel costs and financial constraints may delay treatment until their condition worsens. He urged the government to develop solutions to support patient care, particularly for those unable to reach public health services.
