INTEGRATED PROGRAM OF CERTIFICATE IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FOR THE BLIND
MEDICAL MASSAGE FOR THE BLIND IN THAILAND
Thailand Country Report
Presented at 9 WBU Asia Pacific Regional Seminar on Massage
4-7 May 2008, Beijing, China
Mr. Pecharat Techavachara, President FEPB and TBU
Massage is so far the major occupation of the Blind in Thailand. The teaching of Thai Massage was first included in the curriculum of the Skills Development
Center, Foundation for the Blind in Thailand about thirty years ago. At that time, I myself was one of the board members of the Center. Mr. Pisit Benjamongkulwaree
was invited to be the first teacher of Traditional Thai Massage and he is still teaching till now!
There are only major four organizations giving Thai massage training to the Blind in Thailand: Foundation for the Blind in Thailand which runs the Skills Development Center for the Blind and Sampran Training Center for Blind women, Caulfield Foundation for the Blind, Foundation for the Employment Promotion of the Blind, and Thailand Association of the Blind.
Since 1988, Caulfield Foundation for the Blind has trained about 480 masseurs and masseuses. There policy is to encourage their trainees to go back to their home towns to earn their living. Some of them are successful as to set up organizations for their network.
Besides blind men and women throughout Thailand, Caulfield Foundation also provides massage training, free of charge, for 16 trainees from Malaysia, Singapore, India, and Laos.
The Bangkok Association of the Blind was established in 1967. It grew from a small local organization of the Blind to the largest national organization and the name was changed in 1982 to Thailand Association of the Blind. The membership is now around eight thousand. Although the majority of the membership engages in lottery tickets selling, several training programs of Thai Massage have been carried out receiving financial support from international and local organizations. Since 1997, around 600 blind men and women have been through these training programs.
Since there are hundreds of institutions teaching Thai massage, masseurs and masseuses are undoubtedly different in skills and experiences. Some give proper and effective treatments which can eliminate bad symptoms in the ailment but some unintentionally give wrong treatment which is harmful to the clients!
Our Ministry of Public Health is very much aware of the situation and wishes to regulate the practice and set a uniform standard of Thai Massage.
Since Thai massage is a major occupation of blind people in Thailand, it is utmost important that we must conform with the national standard. Foundation
for the Employment Promotion of the Blind “FEPB” contacted the Department for the Development of Traditional Thai and Alternative Medicine of the Public
Health Ministry and ask for direction. The Director General of the department, Dr. Vichai Chokevivat was very cooperative and assisted us to set up
a curriculum for an intensive training course. One who completed the course and passed the examination was given a certificate signed by the Director
General of the Department for the Development of Traditional Thai and Alternative Medicine. Since 1993, FEPB has granted such certificate to about 400
masseurs and masseuses. Please note that the certificate, though signed by the Director General of Department for the Development of Traditional Thai
and Alternative Medicine, is not a medical license. In order to obtain Thai Massage Medical License, there are three categories:
1. Men and women who have been practicing and teaching Thai massage for at least twenty years.
2. those who have enrolled in a specially designed course approved by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health.
And 3. Masseurs and masseuses must be under close supervision of a licensed teacher for at least two years. Those three categories must passed the examination
set up by Medical Registration Division, Department of Health Support Services, Public Health Ministry, then are eligible to obtain the license. Up till
now, no single blind person in Thailand has received medical license. The Thai Blind Union has adopted a resolution to create Medical Massage for the
Blind in Thailand within two years.
In 1997, Thailand was struck with economic depression. Millions of people lost their jobs. Thousands of business enterprises collapsed! Thai Massage
then became very popular. The Ministry of Public Health realized the usefulness and importance of Thai Massage so various training courses were set up
through out the country. Thousands of men and women were trained to be masseurs and masseuses. As a result, this occupation is very popular and highly
competitive. To be survived in this occupation, one has to be very skilful and diligent. Blind masseurs and masseuses must keep improving their skills
and technique and move from regular health massage to medical massage.