girlfriends younger gay brother in bkk has hiv ive just learned, brother is asking her for money. not really my business as ive only been with her a year and it is her family business. she has sent him money in past couple of months but i have hinted to her she cannot help him as its lifetime of treatment and large medical costs. can anyone advise what are actual costs for HIV treatment and meds in bkk for thai people. i want her to know the true costs and make her realise that if she continues to submit to his demands then shes in for the long ride untill he dies. he is only 22 btw.

I believe Thai nationals are treated "free" under the 30 Bht health care scheme.

Correct. Cost is zero, meds and tests are free. of course he may incur some costs in travelling to a hospital etc.

Yes, medicine and treatment is free (30 Baht).

My GF's brother has been HIV+ for ten years. He lives in a Khon Kaen Moo Ban. Once a month a van picks him and several other HIV+ residents and takes them to a free clinic where they have routine testing and are given a months supply of free medication.

When he was originally diagnosed, he seemed at deaths door and I had little hope that the Thai medical system would rescue him but I was wrong. The local AIDS/HIV treatment system may not seem to be as sophisticated as Western countrparts but it really seems to work.

The fact that this guy has been holding a job and supporting his family for more than 10 years is pretty good evidence of it's effectiveness.

i think maybe he has been bullsh**ting her in this case.

free. Only caveat may be if he is registered in another town or province, then he should go there for treatment or change registration to bangkok.

I am guessing he is seeking treatment as a private hospital or specialty clinic rather than through a government hospital. If this is the case, he is going to have to either find a way to fund his treatment himself, or suck it up and deal with the time-consuming endeavor of seeking treatment at a government hospital.

I suspect the money is for living expense - if new to medications he likely can not currently work (even if he normally does) so funds or home support would likely be required - at least until body is able to cope with the medications and normal extreme weakness.

I suspect the money is for living expense - if new to medications he likely can not currently work (even if he normally does) so funds or home support would likely be required - at least until body is able to cope with the medications and normal extreme weakness.

That's a good point I did not consider. If this is the case, then family are indeed the people who generally step into help. However, he will probably need to accept a change in his lifestyle and financial status (for the worse) considering other people are now footing the bill. He will need to learn to survive on the basics until he can get back on his feet I suppose.