HIV medication

[CliffH]

I have an HIV positive 45 year old Thai friend located in Nakhon Nayok. She is currently prescribed GPO-VIR Z250 antiretroviral medication, for which she is charged 15,000 baht/month by her local hospital.  This is beyond her means, and I have been assisting with the payments. Is it possible for her to get this medication, or an alternative, at a lower price?  She has contacted the Thai Red Cross who, according to her, would not offer any saving.

Any advice please?

[scubascuba3]

Price sounds suspiciously high. No idea about antiviral costs but PrEP is 400 baht a month, I'd expect antivirals to be much cheaper than 15k a month

[FarFlungFalang]

Try the big hospital at the Victory Monument intersection in Bangkok.

Edited February 26, 2020 by FarFlungFalang

[Swimfan]

If I recall correctly in a recent similar post @Sheryl Mentioned that Thai people receive free HIV medication. 
15k a month sounds like a scam to me. 

Edited February 26, 2020 by Swimfan
Correction

[Sheryl]

It is a scam as I have already informed the OP by PM. Apparently he refuses to believe it.

 

This medication does not cost remotely this much even at a top tier private  hospital. More like 1,500 a month,  and less at a government hospital for the few who have to pay full price at one.

 

Thais can get it for free at the government hospital they are registered at. She is absolutely lying.

 

 

 

 

[Kenny202]

19 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

It is a scam as I have already informed the OP by PM. Apparently he refuses to believe it.

 

This medication does not cost remotely this much even at a top tier private  hospital. More like 1,500 a month,  and less at a government hospital for the few who have to pay full price at one.

 

Thais can get it for free at the government hospital they are registered at. She is absolutely lying.

 

 

 

 

I know this for first hand. Had an ex who had it. All free. In fact it could be her 5555. Chatting to a friend of mine in oz the other day hes been sending his Thai gf serious sums of money for operations. I asked him why she was going to a private hospital and not a government hospital? He told me she was going to a government hospital. Sent him photos of her in the ward etc. Phone went awful quiet when I told him Thais get free medical lol

Edited February 26, 2020 by Kenny202

[CliffH]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

It is a scam as I have already informed the OP by PM. Apparently he refuses to believe it.

 

This medication does not cost remotely this much even at a top tier private  hospital. More like 1,500 a month,  and less at a government hospital for the few who have to pay full price at one.

 

Thais can get it for free at the government hospital they are registered at. She is absolutely lying.

 

 

 

 

Many thanks to all who've responded to my request, and a special thanks to Sheryl along with my sincerest apologies.  Yes Sheryl, I did contact you two weeks ago, but, for some reason have not seen a reply. I've obviously been looking in the wrong place.  After a while I had assumed that the message had not actually been sent.

 

The feedback I've received on this website confirms what I've been suspecting for some time.  Once again, thanks to all.

[tlandtday]

2 hours ago, Kenny202 said:

I know this for first hand. Had an ex who had it. All free. In fact it could be her 5555. Chatting to a friend of mine in oz the other day hes been sending his Thai gf serious sums of money for operations. I asked him why she was going to a private hospital and not a government hospital? He told me she was going to a government hospital. Sent him photos of her in the ward etc. Phone went awful quiet when I told him Thais get free medical lol

Thais do not get free medical this is a myth.  I know countless Thais who have had surgery or care at a hospital and every one had to pay.  If fact one was the nephew of a senior nurse and he still had to pay.  All were low income. 

[Kenny202]

2 minutes ago, tlandtday said:

Thais do not get free medical this is a myth.  I know countless Thais who have had surgery or care at a hospital and every one had to pay.  If fact one was the nephew of a senior nurse and he still had to pay.  All were low income. 

Absolute, total and utter rubbish with all due respect. The only way a Thai has to pay is if they do not go to the government hospital to which they have been assigned or they choose to go to a private hospital with no insurance. My son was born in a government hospital here, my GF had a major operation on her leg last year motorbike accident, and a ton of follow up, and a previous GF had an ongoing chronic issue were she spent lots of time at the hospital, as an outpatient and admitted. The only thing thy have to pay is 30 baht

[tlandtday]

19 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

Absolute, total and utter rubbish with all due respect. The only way a Thai has to pay is if they do not go to the government hospital to which they have been assigned or they choose to go to a private hospital with no insurance. My son was born in a government hospital here, my GF had a major operation on her leg last year motorbike accident, and a ton of follow up, and a previous GF had an ongoing chronic issue were she spent lots of time at the hospital, as an outpatient and admitted. The only thing thy have to pay is 30 baht

I would say your post is rubbish.  Perhaps you were lucky enought to get free service at some point but I can tell you that I have seen poor thais pay for charges at government hospitals many times.

 

How long have you lived here? Tell me one Thai govt program not open to corruption?

[CartagenaWarlock]

30 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

Absolute, total and utter rubbish with all due respect. The only way a Thai has to pay is if they do not go to the government hospital to which they have been assigned or they choose to go to a private hospital with no insurance. My son was born in a government hospital here, my GF had a major operation on her leg last year motorbike accident, and a ton of follow up, and a previous GF had an ongoing chronic issue were she spent lots of time at the hospital, as an outpatient and admitted. The only thing thy have to pay is 30 baht

Thais do get almost free medical. It is one of their greatest achievement. As other members have said, they must go to the hospital they are assigned to. For a serious disease like HIV, she must change her assigned hospital which is also possible but may not be easy. Even if she goes to an unassigned hospital, as  a Thai she pays very little. They pay a little if they want to upgrade to VIP room for a overnight stay, or if she wants to get something expensive done like an MRI for a headache which a doctor thinks not required. 

Edited February 26, 2020 by CartagenaWarlock

[ukrules]

1 minute ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

she must change her assigned hospital

This is a reason they often end up paying - the assigned hospital can be 100's of miles away from where they now live and the address has never been changed, then they crash the motorbike and suddenly there's a bill that needs paying.

[tlandtday]

19 minutes ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

Thais do get almost free medical. It is one of their greatest achievement. As other members have said, they must go to the hospital they are assigned to. For a serious disease like HIV, she must change her assigned hospital which is also possible but may not be easy. Even if she goes to an unassigned hospital, as  a Thai she pays very little. They pay a little if they want to upgrade to VIP room for a overnight stay, or if she wants to get something expensive done like an MRI for a headache which a doctor thinks not required. 

Look I dated a gal who was a senior nurse at a govt hospital in a large Thai city.  Her nephew had a motorbike accident and broke a finger.  He was  a poor engineering student.  She escorted him to the government run hospital that she works at. I said to her "gee that's good to have 30 baht care".  She replied she had to pay two thousand baht. She is one of the most honest individuals I have ever met and does not lie. Nor did she ask me for money.  There may be instances where the 30 baht is applied but it is by no means universal.

Edited February 26, 2020 by tlandtday

[Kenny202]

37 minutes ago, tlandtday said:

I would say your post is rubbish.  Perhaps you were lucky enought to get free service at some point but I can tell you that I have seen poor thais pay for charges at government hospitals many times.

 

How long have you lived here? Tell me one Thai govt program not open to corruption?

What the hell are you talking about? Ive lived here 8 years. Corruption? Thais get free medical if they go to their assigned hospital. The only way they have to pay is if they choose a different hospital and possibly if they have an accident without compulsory tax / insurance. You and your "I know a friend" lol. What a crock. Like a child at the kiddies table trying to get in on the conversation 5555. You dont know what your talking about and now your just making up stories to shore up your ridiculous nonsense fairy tales. Have a look what the other posters have said. Ive had 3 family members in hospital, moved medical to a different province with them. Not a "gal" or a friend of a friend or I read somewhere. Your fantasies arent factual and particularly when referring to medical dealings toxic. Not once did I say I get free medical. Foreigners pay

[Kenny202]

1 hour ago, tlandtday said:

Look I dated a gal who was a senior nurse at a govt hospital in a large Thai city.  Her nephew had a motorbike accident and broke a finger.  He was  a poor engineering student.  She escorted him to the government run hospital that she works at. I said to her "gee that's good to have 30 baht care".  She replied she had to pay two thousand baht. She is one of the most honest individuals I have ever met and does not lie. Nor did she ask me for money.  There may be instances where the 30 baht is applied but it is by no means universal.

You guys always lard out your unbelievable stories with ridiculous statements such as "poor Engineering student". I for one have never met a poor engineering student, his folks would be stumping up around 150k a year for fees alone let alone accomodation etc. And please don't plunge yourself in deeper with the back story of the poor rice picker from Baan Nok nowhere who won the scholarship etc lol. Your comments about free medical a myth and seen people pay many times are in fact rubbish. I think we all agree that under some circumstances they need to pay but it isn't the norm and it isn't a myth. Or scenario 2 maybe you yourself got duped. You said she didn't ask you to pay but you never said who did 5555. You do realise they never ask you to pay, well not directly anyway. She would have told you stories of how she wont be able to eat for a week, and wont be able to buy milk for her baby, but it will be ok....that's when you put your hand in your pocket hahaha. 

 

My mother always said, better to keep your mouth shut and possibly appear stupid, rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt. Normally I would not engage in a battle of wits with someone such as yourself, as you are clearly fighting unarmed, but far too many like you on TV spreading misinformation. Possibly how the OP got duped in the first place. If you want to tell stories go to farang pub forum. This is a specific medical forum and replies should be factual. 

 

I got a 3yo son tells better story and flips me better fibs than you do lol

Edited February 26, 2020 by Kenny202

[scubascuba3]

Sad to see HIV being used as the latest thai girl ruse, i guess sick buffalo isn't working anymore

[UbonThani]

Who gives 15,000 to a friend? Must be  lonely.

[scubascuba3]

One way to get around this money issue with thai girls is offer to help them, be a friend etc, but no money, works for me. Otherwise you will just get constant money requests with various stories which may or may not be true

[Sheryl]

10 hours ago, tlandtday said:

I would say your post is rubbish.  Perhaps you were lucky enought to get free service at some point but I can tell you that I have seen poor thais pay for charges at government hospitals many times.

 

How long have you lived here? Tell me one Thai govt program not open to corruption?

All over the country, everywhere, Thais are getting free care. It is absolutely the norm.

 

You may have seen cases where Thais were going to a hospital other than they one they are registered for free care at. This does happen especially in areas that people migrate to for work.

 

i am in and out of Thai government hospitals constantly. Never once seen or heard of corruption or charging of people eligible for free care. Every dingle Thai knows about the free health care system, they would nto get away with it.

 

I have lived here more than 30 years and been inside literally hundreds of different government hospitals. Your information is completely wrong.

[scubascuba3]

2 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

You may have seen cases where Thais were going to a hospital other than they one they are registered for free care at.

This is a problem in Pattaya, when girls who come from Isaan don't re register locally, they haven't got the time or focus to do it so they end up having to pay, not sure how they afford it. System is unfair in that regard

[Kenny202]

18 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

This is a problem in Pattaya, when girls who come from Isaan don't re register locally, they haven't got the time or focus to do it so they end up having to pay, not sure how they afford it. System is unfair in that regard

You are right, but there is nor reason for it anymore. A few years ago used to be very difficult to move medical to a new area but now fairly easy. I really think a lot of them don't realise. Before was a pretty big deal, they would move your medical if you had a good reason but you had to go to your home hospital first and do it all from there.

 

Now, everything can be done for the new hospital where you have moved, and they organise everything from there. They even give you a date to come back and finalise everything. Takes about 2 weeks. Last 2 years done it 4 times for my son, ex girlfriend and new girlfriend and her son. Problem is Thais being Thais never any forward planning and they wait for the worst until they do something about it.

Edited February 27, 2020 by Kenny202

[Sheryl]

5 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

This is a problem in Pattaya, when girls who come from Isaan don't re register locally, they haven't got the time or focus to do it so they end up having to pay, not sure how they afford it. System is unfair in that regard

It is not unfair to require that people use their assigned hospital, since the system is funded on a capitation basis (hospitals receive a flat amount based on the number of people in their catchment area) there is no other feasible way of doing it and most government health systems work on a similar basis. Emergency care is excepted.

 

The problem lies not with the health system but with the house registration system which is outdated and unnecessarily hard to make changes to (though this varies with Ampur) - and with people not bothering to update themselves when they move, often due to a  dislikef dealing with public officials (I can understand this).

[Kenny202]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

One way to get around this money issue with thai girls is offer to help them, be a friend etc, but no money, works for me. Otherwise you will just get constant money requests with various stories which may or may not be true

Probably not the forum for sub discussion on GF but yes, they all try it on for money at first, and I am talking normal girls here not working girls. Before as soon as I got the first request for money I used to give them the shove. But after a while I realised they see no harm in asking, and they see no particular slight in you refusing. Doesn't mean they are going to leave you for the next guy comes along or do not have feelings for you. People who have nothing, want everything. Once you read them the rules they are usually too shy to ask again. Of course if her only line of discussion keeps leading back to money and gifts etc time to move on. Thai guys know how to handle them, promise them the world, and give them an atlas lol

[scubascuba3]

14 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

Problem is Thais being Thais never any forward planning and they wait for the worst until they do something about it.

So true, i thought I'd help a thai girl friend to manage her money, she didn't take up the offer, happier with no money in the bank

[scubascuba3]

15 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

It is not unfair to require that people use their assigned hospital,

This would be fine in the UK for example but in Thailand with the girls i talk to, they just don't do it, so the system doesn't work for them. i often think their brains are wired differently to us, in fact I'm pretty sure

[kekalot]

On 2/27/2020 at 11:01 AM, Kenny202 said:

You are right, but there is nor reason for it anymore. A few years ago used to be very difficult to move medical to a new area but now fairly easy. I really think a lot of them don't realise. Before was a pretty big deal, they would move your medical if you had a good reason but you had to go to your home hospital first and do it all from there.

 

Now, everything can be done for the new hospital where you have moved, and they organise everything from there. They even give you a date to come back and finalise everything. Takes about 2 weeks. Last 2 years done it 4 times for my son, ex girlfriend and new girlfriend and her son. Problem is Thais being Thais never any forward planning and they wait for the worst until they do something about it.

would you know offhand the exact requirements for this to be done easily?

 

have a friend originally from Surin that has lived in different province for 8+ years (have known her for that long) and she was complaining about having to pay at hospital for whatever issue she was having

when I asked her why she didn't have the 30 baht/free scheme she said she'd have to go to Surin. I reckon she is unaware that she can do it possibly easily herself.

 

I'd like to help her out that way permanently if I could and might be useful for other people as well

[Kenny202]

6 hours ago, kekalot said:

would you know offhand the exact requirements for this to be done easily?

 

have a friend originally from Surin that has lived in different province for 8+ years (have known her for that long) and she was complaining about having to pay at hospital for whatever issue she was having

when I asked her why she didn't have the 30 baht/free scheme she said she'd have to go to Surin. I reckon she is unaware that she can do it possibly easily herself.

 

I'd like to help her out that way permanently if I could and might be useful for other people as well

Mate I have been involved in 3 people who have done it and very easy. Just go to the hospital where she wants to move her medical to and they will take care of it all. I forget what actual documents they need but at the least Tabien Baan, ID copies. Takes 2-3 weeks and they will give you a date to come back and finalise it all. Only problem you might strike is if it is a little out of the way hospital not up with the times or looking for an excuse not to do the work. They are better off registered in the big hospitals anyway. Often they have to go to their local AMphur hospital and get referred on to the next biggest hospital then again on to the bigger province hospital. I remember a nurse telling my GF....Step, step, step. 

 

Not sure if your friend has HIV or not but she may be reluctant to get her meds from the area she lives in case someone sees her outside waiting in the infectious diseases area. Sometimes they just wont anyway, for reasons best known to themselves. Like all the silly buggers driving hundreds of km back home to vote when they could have done an absentee or postal vote where they were living

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, Kenny202 said:

Mate I have been involved in 3 people who have done it and very easy. Just go to the hospital where she wants to move her medical to and they will take care of it all. I forget what actual documents they need but at the least Tabien Baan, ID copies. Takes 2-3 weeks and they will give you a date to come back and finalise it all. Only problem you might strike is if it is a little out of the way hospital not up with the times or looking for an excuse not to do the work. They are better off registered in the big hospitals anyway. Often they have to go to their local Amphur hospital and get referred on to the next biggest hospital then again on to the bigger province hospital. I remember a nurse telling my GF....Step, step, step. 

 

Not sure if your friend has HIV or not but she may be reluctant to get her meds from the area she lives in case someone sees her outside waiting in the infectious diseases area. Sometimes they just wont anyway, for reasons best known to themselves. Like all the silly buggers driving hundreds of km back home to vote when they could have done an absentee or postal vote where they were living

 

It is indeed as described above IF registered on a tabian ban in that area (and might not even take a few weeks, might be pretty immediate).  The underlying problem is that most people do not change their tabian ban listing. This has to be done at the Amphur office. Some Amphurs will insist that you first go to the Amphur where currently listed and get removed then come back to newly list at the new place, others do not (you will automatically be removed from the old TB once entered ion a new one). Have to go to the Amphur office and ask.  Many Thais hesitate to go to official offices so may need to push or offer to accompany.

 

Other than reluctance to deal with officialdom, the other issue is that to get onto a tabian ban in the area where actually living one needs the cooperation of the person listed as housemaster on a tabian ban and this can be hard to arrange if renting (need the landlord to cooperate and come along to the Amphur with the original tabian ban and his/her ID card). Failing that, anyone else living in the area who has a tabian ban and is willing to add you to it will do.

 

However this has nothing to do with the OP's situation as his friend is apparently getting her medication at her local hospital in her home province. Additionally, even if she were registered in a different province (and yes, people with HIV do sometimes choose to go to another province for their meds for reasons of anonymity), and therefore having to pay full price, the cost would be around 1000 baht a month and not the 15,000 she has been claiming (and getting the OP to give her). Sheer lying and exploiting his good nature.

 

 

 

 

[Kenny202]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

It is indeed as described above IF registered on a tabian ban in that area (and might not even take a few weeks, might be pretty immediate).  The underlying problem is that most people do not change their tabian ban listing. This has to be done at the Amphur office. Some Amphurs will insist that you first go to the Amphur where currently listed and get removed then come back to newly list at the new place, others do not (you will automatically be removed from the old TB once entered ion a new one). Have to go to the Amphur office and ask.  Many Thais hesitate to go to official offices so may need to push or offer to accompany.

 

Other than reluctance to deal with officialdom, the other issue is that to get onto a tabian ban in the area where actually living one needs the cooperation of the person listed as housemaster on a tabian ban and this can be hard to arrange if renting (need the landlord to cooperate and come along to the Amphur with the original tabian ban and his/her ID card). Failing that, anyone else living in the area who has a tabian ban and is willing to add you to it will do.

 

However this has nothing to do with the OP's situation as his friend is apparently getting her medication at her local hospital in her home province. Additionally, even if she were registered in a different province (and yes, people with HIV do sometimes choose to go to another province for their meds for reasons of anonymity), and therefore having to pay full price, the cost would be around 1000 baht a month and not the 15,000 she has been claiming (and getting the OP to give her). Sheer lying and exploiting his good nature.

 

 

 

 

Not the case Sheryl. In all 3 cases I described the people who changed their medical, including my son were and still are registered in house books in other provinces. I have been involved with this 3 times in the last 4 years. All moved to Khon Kaen government hospital. I accept some smaller hospitals may make things difficult if they are trying to avoid the work or just don't know, as is the case with many govt departments here.

 

Are the HIV meds 1000 baht a month now Sheryl? Obviously Thais get free from their local / assigned hospital. I remember discussing this with you oh maybe 4 years back and back then I think for a foreigner 10,000 minimum.

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, Kenny202 said:

Not the case Sheryl. In all 3 cases I described the people who changed their medical, including my son were and still are registered in house books in other provinces. I have been involved with this 3 times in the last 4 years. All moved to Khon Kaen government hospital. I accept some smaller hospitals may make things difficult if they are trying to avoid the work or just don't know, as is the case with many govt departments here.

 

Are the HIV meds 1000 baht a month now Sheryl? Obviously Thais get free from their local / assigned hospital. I remember discussing this with you oh maybe 4 years back and back then I think for a foreigner 10,000 minimum.

GPO-VIR Z250  is a locally made generic.

 

For some years now Thailand has produced its own generic ARV under the compulsary licensing policy.

 

The cost of the specific medication OP's friend is on at the TRC last I heard was 1,320 a month. Other meds are even less; see the pinned thread.