Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - August 18, 2004
Apiradee Treerutkuarkul
Nimit Tienudom, director of the Aids Access Foundation, voiced concern over the government's recent budget approval of the Public Health Ministry's programme to distribute ARV drugs in the next fiscal year, allocating 800 million baht for the scheme through the Disease Control Department.
At the International Aids Conference last month, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan promised to provide ARV drugs to 50,000 patients within the year.
However, Mr Numit said the approved budget would be enough to cover only about 40,000 patients. So far, fewer than 30,000 have received medication under the programme, he said.
In order to meet the target of 50,000 patients, he said, the ministry must be given additional money from the budget for fiscal 2005 starting in October.
"It's risky for HIV/Aids sufferers because once they start receiving ARV pills, they depend on them forever.
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee they will get the treatment because that depends on the state's generosity," Mr Nimit said.
But acting public health permanent secretary, Charal Trinvuthipong, remained confident the ministry would be able to provide ARV pills for 50,000 HIV/Aids patients by year's end.
The government will get another 400 million baht from the Global Fund to support the programme until 2006, he said, enough to cover ARV treatment for HIV/Aids patients until they are covered by the 30-baht health scheme.
Mr Nimit also voiced disappointment over the red tape which has delayed inclusion of ARV treatment in the 30-baht health care scheme by fiscal 2005.
Sanguan Nittayarampong, secretary-general of the National Health Security Office (NHSO), said a sub-committee has been set up to push for inclusion of GPO-VIR, an ARV drug produced by the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation, and other necessary regimens in the government's health care policy.
Mr Sanguan said it is possible that HIV/Aids patients would receive medical services under the scheme by fiscal 2006.
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