Thailand: Compliance Key to Antiretroviral Use

Treatment adherence is the key to success in Thailand's plan to provide AIDS drugs to all needy patients, senior health officials said Tuesday at the ninth National AIDS Conference. Studies have found only 42 percent of patients strictly follow the instructions for the use of antiretroviral drugs, said Dr. Suvit Wibulpolprasert, deputy permanent secretary at the Public Health Ministry. This could result in drug resistance and an increased budget expense, as patients might have to change to more expensive drug regimens, Suvit said. A system is needed to follow up on patients given such drugs, said Dr. Kanchit Limpakanchanarat from the ThaiUS Center on Disease Control Cooperation. It is also important that health care providers are informed about antiretrovirals, in order for them to inform patients, said Dr. Sanchai Shasombat at the ministry's Department for Disease Control. Within five years, all needy patients will be treated with AIDS drugs, he said.

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