Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - October 24, 2002
Aphaluck Bhatiasevi
Thailand has been promised US$109 million (4.68 billion baht) to fight Aids and another $13 million for tuberculosis control within nine years, starting this year.
The government has pledged another $1 million for five years from this fiscal year, as its contribution to the global fund.
The fund, a public-private partnership set up independently this year, has managed to raise $2.1 billion, two-thirds of which has been set aside for drugs to fight Aids, tuberculosis and malaria.
Its board agreed in Geneva this month that the money, which is also provided to other developing countries, should go on drugs made locally in those countries. They would be prepared to buy drugs at a premium of up to 15% over imported drugs, as long as they were local.
Health Deputy permanent secretary Suwit Wibulpolprasert said the decision indicated the fund's focus would be to shore up local manufacturers so that they would be able to compete with international firms.
The board also gave drug companies in developing countries two years to improve their production and get accreditation from the World Health Organisation to meet criteria for the fund's drug purchases.
Fewer than 10 generic drug companies making generic anti-retroviral drugs to fight Aids have been accredited by the WHO.
UNAids estimates that there are seven million people with HIV/Aids in Asia and the Pacific, with the highest rates in Cambodia, Burma and Thailand, where more than one percent of the working-age population are infected.
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