THAILAND'S FREE ARV PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL SO FAR, REPORT SAYS

A new report on Thailand's program to provide free antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to people living with HIV/AIDS suggests that even developing countries with few resources may be able to deliver the life-saving drugs on a large scale, according to the World Bank. As of May, Thailand was providing treatment for approximately 78,000 AIDS patients, more than 90 percent of those in need of treatment in the country.

According to the report, "The Economics of Effective AIDS Treatment: Evaluating Policy Options for Thailand," Thailand has only recently been able to provide ARVs to large numbers of people, thanks to a domestically produced triple-drug combination called GPO-vir (stavudine/lamivudine/nevirapine), which costs about $30 per month. This has allowed the Ministry of Public Health to promote the drug as standard care.

The report also says that in a few years, as HIV/AIDS patients live longer thanks to ARVs, the Thai health system will need to provide care not only to 10,000 to 20,000 new cases per year, but also to those whose lives have been significantly prolonged by treatment. The country's ability to provide treatment to those who need it in the future rests on the success of its past prevention efforts.