Looking for a Doctor/Hospital/ Clinic Familiar With HIV/AIDS in Ubon Ratchathani Area

[sirchai]

Hello and good day,

I need to find out if there's a place in Ubon Ratchathani area, where doctors are familiar with blood tests like virus load, CD 4, the right medication, etx for HIV/Aids patients.

Somebody in my family has got the HIV virus for many years and the CD 4 cells dropped to 302 within 2 years. The only help she gets is a medication that doesn't seem to help,better said to solve the problem.

The medication is provided by the government and they never did a virus load blood test, which would be necessary for any further decisions regarding the patient's medication.

I'd guess that there must be an organisation/ hospital/ clinic in Ubon area with people who know what they're doing. Can't blame the doctors at little hospitals for not being up to date.

Any help would be deeply appreciated. Many thanks in advance.-

[sirchai]

Dear TVF members,

I'd like to add some more words to my post, as I'd received two private messages regarding people living in the Isaan, where they're asking me for help.It seems that this topic isn't quite fun as others and people don't really want to post anything.\\

Instead of dealing with one patient, I'd promised a foreigner, not living in Thailand to help his sister in law, who's suffering from AIDS in lower northeast area.

This post about helping people here in the lower northeast who're treated with medicine that might do the opposite to their immune system. Their system, already pretty much down, has to fight with another enemy. The medication itself. You can't blame them for not being up to date.

I've never seen any of them doing an online research, etc,,

Medical personal never do a virus load blood test and the medication provided by the Thai government is really questionable. I thought there'd be people out there who're dealing with such a stressful situation I'm 'talking' about, or having dealt with it before.

Having HIC/AIDS in more developed countries isn't a great problem anymore, since they're using treatment that really helps patients. Thailand's still a developing country, without seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

As i couldn't get any information about a doctor/ clinic/ laboratory/ hospital in Ubon Ratchathani, I'd like to ask all members of this forum if Kon Kaen has got such facilities ,as it's a the northeastern hub for medical education.\\

ANY input would be deeply appreciated and urgently needed.--

Edited June 15, 2013 by sirchai

[isanbirder]

I would have thought the best bet, and quite possibly the least expensive in the long run, would have been to go to one of the big teaching hospitals in Bangkok or Chiangmai (I'm not sure about KhonKaen). They have been dealing with quite large numbers of HIV patients in the past 25 years.

[sirchai]

I would have thought the best bet, and quite possibly the least expensive in the long run, would have been to go to one of the big teaching hospitals in Bangkok or Chiangmai (I'm not sure about KhonKaen). They have been dealing with quite large numbers of HIV patients in the past 25 years.

Thanks a lot. Already thought about that, but there's a patient who can hardly walk/ travel....there must be a place in lower/middle/upper northeast

.Looking into it, I find it hard to believe how many HIV positive and already AIDS symptoms developed people are going to hospitals, joining group sessions.\\

Some of them are 12,13 and 14, got the virus by birth. If there's no help, then there must be something done to help them.

Many just don't go to a hospital and die a lonely death, as some relatives don't even wash them as they believe they'll be infected doing so.

The medical system has a strange similarity to the educational one. It just doesn't work, as it should. -

[Dr Robert]

I can speak with experience about Nonthevej Private Hospital in Nonthaburi. It has an outstanding medical team fully conversant with modern HIV/HIC/ AIDS treatment. They are compassionate professional and up to date. It is expensive, but what price the one you love?

I am sure if you contacted them they would put you onto the Isaan treatment centres that offer similar western style care.

My warmest wishes to you and your family member and God bless you for your decency and compassion.

[Dr Robert]

BTW, government hospitals often prescribe only AZT instead of the recommended HAART regemin (Highly active anti retroviral treatment) This cocktail of drugs can be very effective. Again it is relatively expensive, but it will save your family member's life and give them a reasonable standard of existence. If I was in your position I would pay an ambulance, get her to Nonthavej and save her life. Work out the next bit once he/she is relatively stable. Again, good luck-pm me if you need to talk.

[citizen33]

Although it isn't my field, I think that Dr Robert may be being a little unfair in advising the OP to give up on the public sector.

If the OP decided to take his relative to the Bangkok area, there are other good options. I had always been told that the (public) Bamrasnaradura Hospital in Nonthaburi is the leading institution in Thailand for HIV/AIDS.

Actually, I think that Srinakarin Hospital (the university hospital) in Khon Kaen, which looks likely to receive substantial funding to become the medical hub for the NE, would be able to provide sophisticated treatments. I haven't had any dealings with the physicians in the Faculty of Medicine who specialise in HIV/AIDS, but from their published papers they have a long history of treating patients with combination antiretroviral therapies. One of the authors of the Guidelines from the Thai AIDS Association comes from that department, and that publication will give the OP an idea of what should be on offer.

http://www.thaiscience.info/journals/Article/Guidelines%20for%20antiretroviral%20therapy%20in%20hiv-1%20infected%20adults%20and%20adolescents%20the%20recommendations%20of%20the%20thai%20aids%20society%20(tas)%202008.pdf

I suppose the one advantage of paying a premium as Dr Robert suggests is that you are sure to get people's attention, and this is perhaps the worry with the public system. A paper published in 2006 showed that in Khon Kaen province patients in the civil service medical benefit scheme were ,more likely than patients in the universal coverage scheme (i.e.. the old 30 baht scheme) to get ART. I understand the gap has narrowed now and indeed HIV/AIDS is one of the areas where the Government is pushing to harmonise the treatments available under the three public insurance schemes.

It is easy to get confused with terminology in this field (though the OP seems very knowledgeable). ART is often used as a generic term, which in Thailand would cover HAART and its equivalents. These days doctors are more likely to use the term cART (combination ART), as opposed to HAART. HAART usually meant combination therapy, but in theory it could also mean a highly active monotherapy.

Anyway, unless the family want to pay a substantial amount, they should investigate the Faculty of Medicine at Srinakarin. In theory the relative could be referred from her primary care network at nominal cost (probably 30 baht), but in practice she may have to go as a private patient to get their attention.

[sirchai]

BTW, government hospitals often prescribe only AZT instead of the recommended HAART regemin (Highly active anti retroviral treatment) This cocktail of drugs can be very effective. Again it is relatively expensive, but it will save your family member's life and give them a reasonable standard of existence. If I was in your position I would pay an ambulance, get her to Nonthavej and save her life. Work out the next bit once he/she is relatively stable. Again, good luck-pm me if you need to talk.

I'd like to thank you very much for your nice words. Honestly, money is a big issue, as we're living on my salary and hardly make it through each month.

Would I have enough money, no doubt\, I'd take her to another planet. Looking forward for an easier solution, Khoan Kaen might be it.

Again, thanks a lot...-

[sirchai]

Although it isn't my field, I think that Dr Robert may be being a little unfair in advising the OP to give up on the public sector.

If the OP decided to take his relative to the Bangkok area, there are other good options. I had always been told that the (public) Bamrasnaradura Hospital in Nonthaburi is the leading institution in Thailand for HIV/AIDS.

Actually, I think that Srinakarin Hospital (the university hospital) in Khon Kaen, which looks likely to receive substantial funding to become the medical hub for the NE, would be able to provide sophisticated treatments. I haven't had any dealings with the physicians in the Faculty of Medicine who specialise in HIV/AIDS, but from their published papers they have a long history of treating patients with combination antiretroviral therapies. One of the authors of the Guidelines from the Thai AIDS Association comes from that department, and that publication will give the OP an idea of what should be on offer.

http://www.thaiscience.info/journals/Article/Guidelines%20for%20antiretroviral%20therapy%20in%20hiv-1%20infected%20adults%20and%20adolescents%20the%20recommendations%20of%20the%20thai%20aids%20society%20(tas)%202008.pdf

I suppose the one advantage of paying a premium as Dr Robert suggests is that you are sure to get people's attention, and this is perhaps the worry with the public system. A paper published in 2006 showed that in Khon Kaen province patients in the civil service medical benefit scheme were ,more likely than patients in the universal coverage scheme (i.e.. the old 30 baht scheme) to get ART. I understand the gap has narrowed now and indeed HIV/AIDS is one of the areas where the Government is pushing to harmonise the treatments available under the three public insurance schemes.

It is easy to get confused with terminology in this field (though the OP seems very knowledgeable). ART is often used as a generic term, which in Thailand would cover HAART and its equivalents. These days doctors are more likely to use the term cART (combination ART), as opposed to HAART. HAART usually meant combination therapy, but in theory it could also mean a highly active monotherapy.

Anyway, unless the family want to pay a substantial amount, they should investigate the Faculty of Medicine at Srinakarin. In theory the relative could be referred from her primary care network at nominal cost (probably 30 baht), but in practice she may have to go as a private patient to get their attention.

I'm very thankful for your post. I've just received an email from a European doctor, who's treating a few HIV/AIDS patients. Not everybody has the same virus load, some medicine is very efficient for some, others need a different medication.

And of course- the CD 4 amount in 1 ml of blood seems to be the most important issue.

Will try ASAP to get an appointment at Khon Kaen. Each minute waiting is wasted time, as the GPO, given by some government authorities seems to be the wrong way to go.

Again,thanks a lot, your post is deeply appreciated and will also help others.I will keep this updated, as many others do have the same problem, as i had to find out.- .

Edited June 17, 2013 by sirchai

[mrtoad]

Although it isn't my field, I think that Dr Robert may be being a little unfair in advising the OP to give up on the public sector.

If the OP decided to take his relative to the Bangkok area, there are other good options. I had always been told that the (public) Bamrasnaradura Hospital in Nonthaburi is the leading institution in Thailand for HIV/AIDS.

Actually, I think that Srinakarin Hospital (the university hospital) in Khon Kaen, which looks likely to receive substantial funding to become the medical hub for the NE, would be able to provide sophisticated treatments. I haven't had any dealings with the physicians in the Faculty of Medicine who specialise in HIV/AIDS, but from their published papers they have a long history of treating patients with combination antiretroviral therapies. One of the authors of the Guidelines from the Thai AIDS Association comes from that department, and that publication will give the OP an idea of what should be on offer.

http://www.thaiscience.info/journals/Article/Guidelines%20for%20antiretroviral%20therapy%20in%20hiv-1%20infected%20adults%20and%20adolescents%20the%20recommendations%20of%20the%20thai%20aids%20society%20(tas)%202008.pdf

I suppose the one advantage of paying a premium as Dr Robert suggests is that you are sure to get people's attention, and this is perhaps the worry with the public system. A paper published in 2006 showed that in Khon Kaen province patients in the civil service medical benefit scheme were ,more likely than patients in the universal coverage scheme (i.e.. the old 30 baht scheme) to get ART. I understand the gap has narrowed now and indeed HIV/AIDS is one of the areas where the Government is pushing to harmonise the treatments available under the three public insurance schemes.

It is easy to get confused with terminology in this field (though the OP seems very knowledgeable). ART is often used as a generic term, which in Thailand would cover HAART and its equivalents. These days doctors are more likely to use the term cART (combination ART), as opposed to HAART. HAART usually meant combination therapy, but in theory it could also mean a highly active monotherapy.

Anyway, unless the family want to pay a substantial amount, they should investigate the Faculty of Medicine at Srinakarin. In theory the relative could be referred from her primary care network at nominal cost (probably 30 baht), but in practice she may have to go as a private patient to get their attention.

You are correct about the hospital,in Nonthaburi, which is next to the Ministry of Health.

[bergen]

According to the Mrs., there is an AIDS/HIV section and Lab at the army hospital in Warin.......

[sirchai]

According to the Mrs., there is an AIDS/HIV section and Lab at the army hospital in Warin.......

Thanks, will check this option.-

[thunder30101]

I think but not sure her problem will be switching hospitals without gov approval. They will just look at her case as she is getting treatment where she is now, not their problem it isnt working. Thailand has cheap health care yes but the quality is very low unless you are on a private insurance plan or can afford better treatment. They just dont have the budget or resources to service 65 mil. people without cuttiing corners and services. My wife is a nurse of 22 years and most of the time I will treat myself instead of waiting 3-4 hr.s in a que just to be handed a bag of worthless pills. But good on you for trying to help, having hiv/aids in thailand is a major social stigma that usually ends up with the patient being quietly put away someone out of sight and mind.

[sirchai]

I think but not sure her problem will be switching hospitals without gov approval. They will just look at her case as she is getting treatment where she is now, not their problem it isnt working. Thailand has cheap health care yes but the quality is very low unless you are on a private insurance plan or can afford better treatment. They just dont have the budget or resources to service 65 mil. people without cuttiing corners and services. My wife is a nurse of 22 years and most of the time I will treat myself instead of waiting 3-4 hr.s in a que just to be handed a bag of worthless pills. But good on you for trying to help, having hiv/aids in thailand is a major social stigma that usually ends up with the patient being quietly put away someone out of sight and mind.

You're definitely right about that.But I don't care of the loss of face by helping my relative, but also others. Fact is that there's the right treatment and necessary blood tests therefore available.

All I want is to find out where. And the time isn't really on my side, to be honest, nor cash to go to a private hospital. Something i did realize is that some Thais might think I'm the one who's infected, as they don't get it why I'm trying to help.

My relative's joining a group, but their doctor doesn't have the right knowledge to do so. Some "experimental deaths" show them that the medication wasn't suitable for the already many years suffering patients.

Thais usually believe in their doctors, which seems to be a problem to deliver the truth about their lack of knowledge to my relative.

Would a Thai doctor really send a patient to a better place, where treatment and the right blood tests are the norm? I pretty much doubt that.

I just don't want to accept that she's passing away, knowing that there's help somewhere else Hopefully in Khon Kaen. Hope is the last that dies.-