To mark World Aids Day today, the Public Health Ministry has finally extended its 30-baht health care scheme to cover anti-retroviral drugs for HIV/Aids.

Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan yesterday made the promise to 1,000 Aids sufferers who gathered in front of Government House.

The protesters, who came from 495 groups of HIV-infected people nationwide, demanded the 30-baht scheme be expanded to cover at least 10,000 Aids sufferers next year, and reach 150,000 people by 2006.

From this month, anti-retroviral drugs will be made by the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation at cheap-er prices.

Ms Sudarat said the ministry would double the drugs budget to 500 million baht in 2002. In the early stages, the scheme would cover 6,000-7,000 Aids sufferers.

A committee would work out a budget management plan and criteria for deciding who should get the drugs.

The panel would comprise the ministry, medical experts, and 10 people from the network of people living with HIV/Aids.

Senator Jon Ungpakorn, who joined the rally, said anti-retroviral drugs would prolong the lives of Aids sufferers. He did not think the plan would cause financial problems as the price of anti-retroviral drugs was constantly falling and likely to reach 1,000 baht a person a month in the next few years.

However, the scheme would be more effective if HIV-infected people were given a say.

``Anti-retroviral drugs are likely to cause side-effects, and patients need to find a specific formula which suits them,'' he said.

Aids sufferers, he said, should enjoy the same rights as other patients, so it was only fair to include the drugs.

The ministry said its budget on Aids would be increased to more than one billion baht, of which.42% would go on prevention, 39% on treatment, and the rest on information and research.uReport page 8, Editorial, Analysis page 12, Outlook page 8