(BANGKOK) Following the general election of January 6, 2001, the Thai Rak Thai party formed the new government with Mr. Tak-sin Chinnawat as Prime minister and Mrs. Sudarat Kaeyuraphan as Minister of Public Health. The Thai Rak Thai government committed itself to introducing the „30 Baht Health Scheme¾ as the first step towards bring about universal coverage of health care for all. The 30 Baht health scheme gives the opportunity for all Thais to access basic health care with a medical consultation and treatment for a cost of 30 baht for each visit. However, antiretroviral treatment and the treatment of chronic renal failure have not yet been included in the scheme.

The Minister of Health is on record as saying that ARV would be considered in the universal health coverage if prices came down to 2,500 baht a month. With investment from the Ministry of Health, the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) have increased their production capacity which will lead to a reduction in price of triple ARV regimens to 2,310 baht a month by mid December 2001 on domestically manufactured 'generic' versions of essential antiviral medicines. Therefore, we, the Thai Network for People living with HIV/AIDS and AIDS NGOs will gather 1,000 people outside Government House to show our solidarity and to demand commitment from the new government in this era of "Rethink Redo" to include antiretroviral treatment in the health scheme as promised by our Minister of Health.

„ 30 Baht Health Scheme has to cover antiretroviral treatment¾

Thai Network for People living with HIV/AIDS (TNP+) and Thai NGOs Coliation on AIDS (TNCA) are demanding that antiretroviral treatment be included in the Universal Health Coverage (UC)

30 November 2001, more than 1,000 people will gather outside Government House to speak out for those with HIV/AIDS. Members of 495 PHA (people living with HIV/AIDS) groups will walk to the King Rama V monument in an early morning.

08.00 ‚ 08.15 Perform religious ceremony „giving resect to the King Rama V¾.

08.15 ‚ 08.45 Walk to Government House.

08.45 - 09.15 Opening ceremony „The Living Monument¾ by Senator Jon Ungphakorn.

09.15 - 09.30 Declaration of "Being an AIDS patient, being a human¾.

09.30 ‚ 10.30 Sudarat Keyuraphan, Minister of Health will address the gathering.

10.30 ‚ 11.00 Speech by PHA representative.

11.00 ‚ 11.30 Donate food to the monks as an act of merit dedicated to those who already died

without recieving antiretroviral treatment.

11.30 - 13.00 Lunch & music.

13.00 - 14.30 Discussion - „How PHA could help with ARV distribution system¾.

14.30 - 15.30 Music by PHA group/group discussion „Living with ARVs¾ organised by PHA already experienced in taking ARVs.

15.30 - 17.30 Speech by PHA representative.

17.30 ‚ 18.00 Announcement of PHA network ås movement.

1.. Everybody will light a candle and hold hands to encircle Government House There will be an all-day activity called „Barefoot Doctors¾ by PHA

We need the media to help us pass our message to the men of power and the general public.

Paisan Tan-ud, Chairman of Thai Network for People living with HIV/AIDS

Tel: +66 1 824-5434

Nimit Tien-udom, Director of ACCESS Tel: + 66 1-910 4884

Paul Cawthorne, Head of Mission and Onanong Bunjumnong, Access Campaign Coordinator

Medecins Sans Frontieres-Belgium, Thailand

Tel: +66 2 378-1801

Mobile: +66 1 838-4233

Back to Top