Hiv Treatment In Thailand

[Ijustwannateach]

A friend of mine has had the unhappy news that his Thai boyfriend is HIV+. I would like to ask on his behalf what the situation now seems to be for those getting treated under the public scheme for this illness. If his home region is pertinent, then it is one of the Isaan provinces. It is my impression that at least sometimes the public treatment for HIV is quite well done here, but I would like to hear from you folks. My friend is willing to help with private treatment, but if good public treatment is available his bf may as well enroll in it; my friend doesn't live here full time and it would be better to have some kind of dependable local care available.

[slimdog]

Hi IJWT,

Not being treated by the Thai health system, I can't say for sure what the current situation is, however, by and large the Thai health system is regarded quite highly regarding hiv care, treatment and prevention.

One good bit of news for your friend is that the cabinet earmarked an additional 1 billion baht for hiv treatment, to go towards ARV medication, additional medication, and blood testing (cd4 & viral load). On top of which the health authority has also made notice that they have the intention of putting a compulsory licence on stocrin (efavirenz). Whether or not this comes to pass is still to be seen, but at the very least the price of stocrin has been sufficiently reduced.

Generally, Thai's who are in need of ARV medication are put on the government's GPO/vir medication, although with your friends boyfriend, a lot will depend on the results of his cd4 count. In addition to the governments money I believe that USaid also supply money for hiv patients so that they can have regular blood checks.

GPO/vir is not a bad medicine, but there are some side effects, mostly muscle loss, particularly in the facial area, although this doesn't affect everyone, also some people have been found to be resistant to the drug.

The number of people treated each year is growing, I believe they are trying to increase the number to 120,000 this year.

The best thing for the moment for your friend's boyfriend is to have a full blood test, and based on this decide what is the best course of treatment. Thankfully the knowledge within the medical community within Thailand is excellent.

One of the hardest parts about being infected with hiv is coming to terms with it, having support, especially emotionally will help him considerably.

Wishing all the very best for those involved.

Slimdog

[Digger]

I found a useful snippet about this recently. Most Thai's that live away from their province believe that they cannot get the 30b health care scheme - apparently this is not true - all they have to do is go to the amphur office of where they are staying and register (somehow) that they are now living in wherever it is they are staying. Once registered they can then use the 30b health care scheme - dont expect anybody to tell you this but I had it from a very reliable source.

[orchis]

There are many more generic meds available than only GPO VIR 250 in Thailand (which is the generic of AZT, 3TC and Viramune). The side effects in GPO VIR 250 are mostly from the AZT. Still it's not a bad treatment, I took it for 9.5 years (first 8.5 years on brand names, 1 on GPO VIR 250).

It's good news that people now apparently, previous post, can change their place of residence more easily, most people who find themselves hiv poz in bigger centres would dread to go back home in the province for treatment. If the bf of your friend is working than he also has social security from his job and can be treated for free in the public hospital he chose at the start of his contract, though I've been once to my hospital of 'choice' and the wait was endless. A not too expensive solution might be to go to Bumrungrad or Bangkok General, GPO VIR 250 there is around 4000 (four thousand ) THB a month, initial check ups mothly, if treatment is well tolerated every 6 months. Side effects can be daunting but in most cases recede after 3 weeks-1months, but should be closely monitored anyway. Hope this helps.

Edited January 4, 2007 by orchis

[Danish27]

Was talking to a friend and is not sure how it words with the GPO medicine. These kind of only for Thai people or a farang living in Bangkok would also be able to get it? What are the prices for farangs living in Bangkok for the lifesaving medicine?

[ProThaiExpat]

A Thai tennis player who I know has this year started GPO therapy at the government hospital and I am quite impressed how well he is treated.

He told me that his HIV specialist at the government hospital waited until his CD4 level was low enough before starting the medicine. Then he was given one GPO combination of three meds to be taken in the AM and the threee individual medicines to be taken at night to see if the one causing the worst side effects was a culprit. Not so in his case, and I admire the tritration approach of his doctor as clearly, by using the individual drugs at night, the side effect causing drug could be isolated.

He has had no side effects and awaits his first followup CD4 test. He has paid no money.

He is from Issan and merely went to his local Amphur and got his 30 Baht scheme card issued locally. The doctor at the government hospital actually urged him to change his 30 baht scheme registration so he wouldn't have to pay, even tho he has the means to pay the 1000 Baht monthly cost for the GPO medicine.

The government seems well up on this issue, as the press reports that the Thai Health Ministry has authorized the manufacture in Thailand by the government of the anti-viral alternative drug for GPO resistant patients need.