Hiv Poz Canadian Moving To Thailand - Can I Get My Meds

[VAN2PATTAYA]

I am an HIV Poz Canadian planning to move to Thailand in the next Year or two to live with my Thai boyfriend. I am currently receiving my meds (Kaletra/Lamivudine/abacavir) for free from the BC/Canadian government. They currently give me 90 day supplies at a time.

Anybody know if the Canadian government will supply drugs for longer or ship them overseas?

What are my options for getting HIV treatment in Thailand (Pattaya). I realize it will cost me. Will I need to come back to Canada every 3 months to get my Meds or can I get them in Pattaya? I suspect it would be cheaper to buy them in Thailand rather than keep flying back and forth.

Any other suggestions on HIV resources and support groups in the Pattaya or Bangkok area for 'farangs'? Any comments on the overall quality of HIV care in the local hospitals?

I appreciate any info on this subject.

[Sheryl]

I am an HIV Poz Canadian planning to move to Thailand in the next Year or two to live with my Thai boyfriend. I am currently receiving my meds (Kaletra/Lamivudine/abacavir) for free from the BC/Canadian government. They currently give me 90 day supplies at a time.

Anybody know if the Canadian government will supply drugs for longer or ship them overseas?

What are my options for getting HIV treatment in Thailand (Pattaya). I realize it will cost me. Will I need to come back to Canada every 3 months to get my Meds or can I get them in Pattaya? I suspect it would be cheaper to buy them in Thailand rather than keep flying back and forth.

Any other suggestions on HIV resources and support groups in the Pattaya or Bangkok area for 'farangs'? Any comments on the overall quality of HIV care in the local hospitals?

I appreciate any info on this subject.

Just sent you a PM re recommended docs & hospitals.

You can get the meds here but not in generic so it will cost.

As to possibility of getting a longer supply from the Canadian health system need to ask them, unless there are any other HIV+ Canadians on this forum who can advise.

Re farang-oriented support groups, I don't kniow but I do know that there are a fair number of HIV+ farangs living in Thailand so if there isn't such a group, there ought to be...over to other readers to respond on this point...

[thescot]

The 3TC can be obtained in Thailand generically so should be cheap. The ABC + LPV can be easily obtained at a price but i really don't have any idea on the costs. There used to be an old post here which quoted the prices and i'll try to find it?

I live in Pattaya and use the local top hospital. The docs have a good knowledge of the virus but they are certainally not specialists. If you are knowledgable then Pattaya and the docs here are just about OK. Sheryl has sent you some specialists in BKK who i have heard are excellent but yet to try them and it's only a few hours dive away.

The hospital here charges 8,000bht ($200) for CD4 / VL tests along with another $13 or so dollars for the doctor's fee. I can tell you that the generics are reasonably priced (approx $75/month) for a combo of combivir+virimune for eg.

Things are changing all the time with supply /demand etc with drug availability and may have changed further before you come here. the following link are the current drugs availability in Thailand.

HIV is new to me but hope some of the info is helpful?

http://dpc9.ddc.moph.go.th/file/HIVinreal.ptt#404,2,slide2

I am an HIV Poz Canadian planning to move to Thailand in the next Year or two to live with my Thai boyfriend. I am currently receiving my meds (Kaletra/Lamivudine/abacavir) for free from the BC/Canadian government. They currently give me 90 day supplies at a time.

Anybody know if the Canadian government will supply drugs for longer or ship them overseas?

What are my options for getting HIV treatment in Thailand (Pattaya). I realize it will cost me. Will I need to come back to Canada every 3 months to get my Meds or can I get them in Pattaya? I suspect it would be cheaper to buy them in Thailand rather than keep flying back and forth.

Any other suggestions on HIV resources and support groups in the Pattaya or Bangkok area for 'farangs'? Any comments on the overall quality of HIV care in the local hospitals?

I appreciate any info on this subject.

[VAN2PATTAYA]

Hi thescot

Thanks for the info. The link below does not work for me but I'll dig around and see what I can find out.

Cheers

van2pattaya

The 3TC can be obtained in Thailand generically so should be cheap. The ABC + LPV can be easily obtained at a price but i really don't have any idea on the costs. There used to be an old post here which quoted the prices and i'll try to find it?

I live in Pattaya and use the local top hospital. The docs have a good knowledge of the virus but they are certainally not specialists. If you are knowledgable then Pattaya and the docs here are just about OK. Sheryl has sent you some specialists in BKK who i have heard are excellent but yet to try them and it's only a few hours dive away.

The hospital here charges 8,000bht ($200) for CD4 / VL tests along with another $13 or so dollars for the doctor's fee. I can tell you that the generics are reasonably priced (approx $75/month) for a combo of combivir+virimune for eg.

Things are changing all the time with supply /demand etc with drug availability and may have changed further before you come here. the following link are the current drugs availability in Thailand.

HIV is new to me but hope some of the info is helpful?

http://dpc9.ddc.moph.go.th/file/HIVinreal.ptt#404,2,slide2

I am an HIV Poz Canadian planning to move to Thailand in the next Year or two to live with my Thai boyfriend. I am currently receiving my meds (Kaletra/Lamivudine/abacavir) for free from the BC/Canadian government. They currently give me 90 day supplies at a time.

Anybody know if the Canadian government will supply drugs for longer or ship them overseas?

What are my options for getting HIV treatment in Thailand (Pattaya). I realize it will cost me. Will I need to come back to Canada every 3 months to get my Meds or can I get them in Pattaya? I suspect it would be cheaper to buy them in Thailand rather than keep flying back and forth.

Any other suggestions on HIV resources and support groups in the Pattaya or Bangkok area for 'farangs'? Any comments on the overall quality of HIV care in the local hospitals?

I appreciate any info on this subject.

[VAN2PATTAYA]

Thanks Sheryl

Great information. I truly appreciate it. I am eager to see what other experiences HIV+ folk can share. I will contact my local HIV specialist in Canada to see if they have any referrals or comments on receiving meds from Canada.

Cheers

Van2pattaya

I am an HIV Poz Canadian planning to move to Thailand in the next Year or two to live with my Thai boyfriend. I am currently receiving my meds (Kaletra/Lamivudine/abacavir) for free from the BC/Canadian government. They currently give me 90 day supplies at a time.

Anybody know if the Canadian government will supply drugs for longer or ship them overseas?

What are my options for getting HIV treatment in Thailand (Pattaya). I realize it will cost me. Will I need to come back to Canada every 3 months to get my Meds or can I get them in Pattaya? I suspect it would be cheaper to buy them in Thailand rather than keep flying back and forth.

Any other suggestions on HIV resources and support groups in the Pattaya or Bangkok area for 'farangs'? Any comments on the overall quality of HIV care in the local hospitals?

I appreciate any info on this subject.

Just sent you a PM re recommended docs & hospitals.

You can get the meds here but not in generic so it will cost.

As to possibility of getting a longer supply from the Canadian health system need to ask them, unless there are any other HIV+ Canadians on this forum who can advise.

Re farang-oriented support groups, I don't kniow but I do know that there are a fair number of HIV+ farangs living in Thailand so if there isn't such a group, there ought to be...over to other readers to respond on this point...

[Phil Conners]

AFAIK you will not be granted a visa to Thailand as HIV infected.

[Thaiquila]

AFAIK you will not be granted a visa to Thailand as HIV infected.

I think you are totally wrong on this! HIV is not listed as a disqualifying medical condition for a long term visa in Thailand. It is remarkable that it isn't because many countries do list it, even Canada. But again, why did you say this, from knowledge or assumption?

[cdnvic]

I am currently receiving my meds (Kaletra/Lamivudine/abacavir) for free from the BC/Canadian government. They currently give me 90 day supplies at a time.

Anybody know if the Canadian government will supply drugs for longer or ship them overseas?

Your health coverage will expire after you are absent for more than 90 days unless you can show that you are maintaining a residence in BC, and do not acquire a long term visa to settle in another jurisdiction.

cv

[VAN2PATTAYA]

Good point cdnvic - I was not aware of that. I will maintain a residence in BC at least for the short term until I get settled in Thailand then I will have to explore my options.

I am currently receiving my meds (Kaletra/Lamivudine/abacavir) for free from the BC/Canadian government. They currently give me 90 day supplies at a time.

Anybody know if the Canadian government will supply drugs for longer or ship them overseas?

Your health coverage will expire after you are absent for more than 90 days unless you can show that you are maintaining a residence in BC, and do not acquire a long term visa to settle in another jurisdiction.

cv

[Sheryl]

AFAIK you will not be granted a visa to Thailand as HIV infected.

Not true. At no point in the visa process will your HIV status be asked or determined. The health certificate required is a very simple affair, screening no more than vital signs and questioning you about a few infectious diseases (not including HIV/AIDs). Lots of HIV poz folk in Thailand on long term visas.

I would not volunteer the information that you are poz, though, when getting the medical certificate. Just say you're in good health (which you are) and leave it at that. Otherwise they'll be unsure what to do since the rules don't specify.

[Digger]

Just to add about medicines - Abacavir is only available in original format made by GlaxoSmithKline in Australia and imported into Thailand - its approx:12,000 baht for a months supply. I believe Kaletra is also only available as a original format medicine but do not know the price - I'd hazzard a guess somewhere around same price as Abacavir. Lamivudine (3tc) is available as a generic copy and costs about 2,000 baht for a months supply.

Re: doctors - personally if it was me, I would not use any hospitals in Pattaya - go up and see one of the specialists in Bangkok - plenty of information on who is good in the health forums. Costs are no different, but the quality of the doctors is very different if you select an experienced one. Look for a background in either Mahidol or Chula(longkorn) hospitals as these are the main medical schools in Thailand. If you decide to use a hospital in Pattaya, you really one have one choice - Bangkok Pattaya who have about 3 semi-specialists on staff. None of the other (private) hospitals have any specialists although they have general doctors who will of course have been trained to some extent in infectious diseases but their pharmacies will not be carrying large ranges of drugs.

Also there is a tendancy in Thailand to ignore Viral load testing for cost reasons - unless your seeing a specialist, odds are the doctor wont even bother doing one and rely entirely on CD4 testing as its far cheaper for the average Thai patient. This is unlikely to happen if your seeing a specialist at a large private hospital.

[Phil Conners]

AFAIK you will not be granted a visa to Thailand as HIV infected.

I think you are totally wrong on this! HIV is not listed as a disqualifying medical condition for a long term visa in Thailand. It is remarkable that it isn't because many countries do list it, even Canada. But again, why did you say this, from knowledge or assumption?

Hm, I though I read that on a Visa form but maybe I was wrong.