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 25, 2002
Anjira Assavanonda
Three months ago, doctors volunteering at the foundation accused Mr Vichai of exaggerating V-1's benefits and breaching an agreement that it be distributed free.
The foundation, which previously helped distribute V-1, stopped supporting Mr Vichai after doctors led by Sek Aksaranukroh cited a study of 71 patients which showed the substance had failed to improve immunity levels.
Mr Vichai said the doctors' claims had hurt his reputation as well as the lives of his patients at Ban Bangpakong clinic in Chachoengsao.
Many patients, he said, lost faith in V-1 and stopped taking the food supplement.
Some grew worse, even died.
Mr Vichai said vested interests stood to lose if V-1 was a success, and had opposed his campaign. These included drug firms distributing anti-retroviral drugs costing 20,000-30,000 baht a month.
The foundation, he said, tried to defame him after both sides fell out. Pol-Gen Salang, the founder, wanted free distribution of V-1, but Mr Vichai thought that would hurt his clinic.
"We could not survive if we continued to distribute the product free. So I decided to sell it to people who could afford to pay, and support those who were poorer," he said.
People who took V-1 should stay under close supervision by doctors, which was another reason why indiscriminate give-aways would not work.
Mr Vichai admitted some patients taking V-1 had grew worse and died, but said they had a very low immunity level which was hard to reverse.
Yesterday Mr Vichai brought with him two Aids patients who said their condition had improved after taking V-1. Joy, 30, said her health and that of her HIV-infected daughter was getting better after being on V-1 for five months.
Oraphan Methadilokkul, who backed Mr Vichai with a study of 22 patients showing V-1 could cure the illnesses, said Mr Vichai was treated unfairly.
021025
BP021008
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