The Economics of Effective AIDS Treatment

This report on Thailand's experience of giving free anti-retroviral drugs (ART) to people living with AIDS suggests that even developing countries with few resources may be able to deliver the life-saving drugs on a large scale. Of the estimated 40 million people worldwide infected with HIV, UNAIDS says between 5 to 6 million could immediately benefit from ART; but currently only 700,000 people are being treated with the new therapy. In contrast, by May, 2006 Thailand was providing treatment for approximately 78 thousand AIDS patients, more than 90 percent of those in need of treatment. Thailand's ability to provide ART to so many sufferer is the result of highly effective prevention campaigns over previous years, a vast network of district level hospitals and rural health clinics with the capacity to provide widespread treatment, a strong NGO community that has worked closely with government on rolling out the expanded ART program, and the close involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS themselves