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**Matt W** · Jul 14, 2005, 06:11 am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/4681539.stm

Quote:

Thailand has announced it will offer anti-retroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV/Aids to all infected Thais, at virtually no cost to the patient.

The drugs will be available on the government's 30 baht healthcare scheme, with treatments costing just under $1.

There are estimated to be approximately 500,000 HIV-positive people in Thailand.

The Thai government has pioneered the production of cheap generic drugs to combat HIV/Aids.

The drugs have already been made available under pilot schemes to some low-income groups, but now they will be available to all who need them.

Let's hear it for government health schemes!

Seriously, though, this is a good step forward in the fight against AIDS.

Mr.Vicchio · Jul 14, 2005, 06:28 am

Ever been to Thailand?

I have. Sex industry is insane over there, I could tell you stories to make your nads curdle.

**Matt W** · Jul 14, 2005, 06:37 am

Indeed I have, Mr.V. A good 2/3 times. Bangkok is not a pleasant place to be if you're a single Western male - sex industry is a bit more subdued outside the capital, though. Again, this development is definately a good thing - especially since they're considering it for export to their neighbours too!

Trotsky · Jul 14, 2005, 06:53 am

Quote:

Quote by: Matt W

Indeed I have, Mr.V. A good 2/3 times. Bangkok is not a pleasant place to be if you're a single Western male - sex industry is a bit more subdued outside the capital, though. Again, this development is definately a good thing - especially since they're considering it for export to their neighbours too!

Ripping off patents then I take it! tut tut tut! Nah good on 'em. Phuket (sic?) is a nice auld spot. Hated Bangkok...just made me feel dirty.

**Matt W** · Jul 14, 2005, 07:06 am

Yeah, I much preferred Koh Pah Nyang to Bangkok - Koh Samui was just a bit too touristy! The islands are probably the best places in Thailand.

Nono · Jul 14, 2005, 07:40 am

Well, since this has gone off the topic rails in record time, might as well have my say.

Bangkok is hell for sure. But it's full of gems (off-track temples, markets, etc.) if you stick your nose outside of Banglamphsu and give yourself time to discover them. And that river -- I'll never get tired of it.

Matt, of course it's heresy to praise government health scheams these days but I'll leave ideological correctness to the ideological correct. Public health is a public concern and it's the government's role to maintain it. Thailand has been tourist-dependent for decades, and part of that tourism is sex-related. Well, no wonder: the girls are so beautiful and smiley-submissive. A lot of them these days are slaves down from Burma, etc. And plenty of their customers are those scowling machos otherwise known as Thai men. Since there's precious little rule of law in Thailand (prostitution is illegal there, just for example) only sex education and other public measures will help in the short term.

Mr.Vicchio · Jul 14, 2005, 07:54 am

Pattya Beach was my destination.

And the Sex industry, is rampent.

tman_ndsu08 · Jul 14, 2005, 09:29 am

If the Thai's want the drugs, then let them pay for it themselves.

**Matt W** · Jul 14, 2005, 10:14 am

Seeing as the Thai government pioneered the drugs....they can set whatever price they wish to their people, surely??

Forseti · Jul 14, 2005, 11:17 am

They may be putting out a cheap aids drug but I’m curious. Does it actually help at all? I mean you don’t hear of to many wonder drugs coming from the scientific minds of Thailand. Then again I may be wrong and if so please state how.

**Matt W** · Jul 14, 2005, 11:24 am

If you read the link, you'll see that whilst they may not have developed the drug itself, it would appear that the Pharmecutical Organisation have produced a combination of the drugs in one pill - which would appear to be a significant development in itself.

Trotsky · Jul 14, 2005, 12:19 pm

These drugs are patent rip offs. In other words they are just synthesis of already available (but rediculously expensive) drugs from the market. The big four hold most of the patents into anti-retrovirals as they are the only ones with the finacial clout to do the research. All the Thai government are doing is paying state chemical companies to synthesise the drugs according to the patents which are freely available from the USPO and the EPO.
The accuracy of the chemistry in the patents can be a bit sketchy, with some information being selectively ommited, but any chemist with a brain should be able to sort these out without much hassle.

oranged · Jul 14, 2005, 07:21 pm

I think what's happening in Thailand is exellent news, exept that Thailand isn't the country that needs it the most, Lesotho is, or maybe South Africa. I think all countries should have free healthcare, food, legal assistence, and housing, not to mention extremly high taxes which I think would be worth it.

bishop · Jul 14, 2005, 09:43 pm

i don't know much about medicine and diseases... what's the purpose of this medication? to keep prostitutes visibly healthy so they can continue working the streets and spreading aids?

i remember reading something a while back about how the thai government was trying to crack down on prostitution, but i'm not sure if much progress has been made. prostitution's part of their social fabric, and somewhere near 50% of them are hiv positive.. aids drugs are nice, but they won't do anything to actually stop new cases of aids.

Mr.Vicchio · Jul 14, 2005, 10:23 pm

Quote:

Quote by: oranged

I think what's happening in Thailand is exellent news, exept that Thailand isn't the country that needs it the most, Lesotho is, or maybe South Africa. I think all countries should have free healthcare, food, legal assistence, and housing, not to mention extremly high taxes which I think would be worth it.

free free free free free

Oh and you are taxed out the ying yang for allt hat free stuff provided by the caring government.

Who pays for all your free healthcare? Taxes? Yes, Jimmy Carters term proved how wrong Reagan was later to lower taxes.... I mean, higher tax revenues, more jobs, lower interest rates... hey who wants all that when they could have stagflation?

Trotsky · Jul 15, 2005, 06:34 am

Quote:

Quote by: bishop

i don't know much about medicine and diseases... what's the purpose of this medication? to keep prostitutes visibly healthy so they can continue working the streets and spreading aids?

i remember reading something a while back about how the thai government was trying to crack down on prostitution, but i'm not sure if much progress has been made. prostitution's part of their social fabric, and somewhere near 50% of them are hiv positive.. aids drugs are nice, but they won't do anything to actually stop new cases of aids.

Nope they won't, thats where education comes into it.
As for your question what is the purpose of this medication....would you rather nothing was done and HIV/AIDs sufferers were just left to die quickly?

**Matt W** · Jul 15, 2005, 06:40 am

Quote:

Oh and you are taxed out the ying yang for allt hat free stuff provided by the caring government.

Who pays for all your free healthcare? Taxes? Yes, Jimmy Carters term proved how wrong Reagan was later to lower taxes.... I mean, higher tax revenues, more jobs, lower interest rates... hey who wants all that when they could have stagflation?

Seeing as oranged comes from Sweden, where they have pretty hefty taxes, I'm pretty sure he's aware of this, Mr.V. This thread's 'Captain Obvious' award goes to you!

On the other hand of course, let's think about who has the highest standards of living these days...I'm pretty sure it's Sweden!

mr.perfecto · Jul 15, 2005, 06:40 am

What would be wrong with that? It not like HIV/AIDs is a chronic condition caused by pollution...

**Matt W** · Jul 15, 2005, 06:43 am

Ah, the joys of compassion...as has been said somewhere above, a government has a duty of care towards it's citizens.... :rolleyes:

mr.perfecto · Jul 15, 2005, 06:54 am

Compassion doesn't include coddling those who harm but in helping the victim and justly punishing the perpetrator. All the government is doing is making parents look like fools for steering their kids away from the brothels and bath houses.

Jul 14, 2005, 06:28 am	#2 (permalink) (top)
Mr.Vicchio Navy Veteran Location: Texas Posts: 6,031	Ever been to Thailand? I have. Sex industry is insane over there, I could tell you stories to make your nads curdle. Einstein's "Theory of Relativity" is still being challenged to this day, but by consensus Global Warming is a fact... that's REAL science at work, why didn't Albert just go that route?

Jul 14, 2005, 06:37 am	#3 (permalink) (top)
Matt W Moderator Location: Reading, UK. Posts: 5,709	Indeed I have, Mr.V. A good 2/3 times. Bangkok is not a pleasant place to be if you're a single Western male - sex industry is a bit more subdued outside the capital, though. Again, this development is definately a good thing - especially since they're considering it for export to their neighbours too! I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered. -George Best, on being asked what he did with his footballing fortunes.

Jul 14, 2005, 07:06 am	#5 (permalink) (top)
Matt W Moderator Location: Reading, UK. Posts: 5,709	Yeah, I much preferred Koh Pah Nyang to Bangkok - Koh Samui was just a bit too touristy! The islands are probably the best places in Thailand. I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered. -George Best, on being asked what he did with his footballing fortunes.

Jul 14, 2005, 07:40 am	#6 (permalink) (top)
Nono Throbbing Member Location: Old Europe Posts: 6,443	Well, since this has gone off the topic rails in record time, might as well have my say. Bangkok is hell for sure. But it's full of gems (off-track temples, markets, etc.) if you stick your nose outside of Banglamphsu and give yourself time to discover them. And that river -- I'll never get tired of it. Matt, of course it's heresy to praise government health scheams these days but I'll leave ideological correctness to the ideological correct. Public health is a public concern and it's the government's role to maintain it. Thailand has been tourist-dependent for decades, and part of that tourism is sex-related. Well, no wonder: the girls are so beautiful and smiley-submissive. A lot of them these days are slaves down from Burma, etc. And plenty of their customers are those scowling machos otherwise known as Thai men. Since there's precious little rule of law in Thailand (prostitution is illegal there, just for example) only sex education and other public measures will help in the short term. "I wish I was as cocksure of anything as Tom Macaulay is of everything." -- Viscount Melbourne

Jul 14, 2005, 07:54 am	#7 (permalink) (top)
Mr.Vicchio Navy Veteran Location: Texas Posts: 6,031	Pattya Beach was my destination. And the Sex industry, is rampent. Einstein's "Theory of Relativity" is still being challenged to this day, but by consensus Global Warming is a fact... that's REAL science at work, why didn't Albert just go that route?

Jul 14, 2005, 09:29 am	#8 (permalink) (top)
tman_ndsu08 BANNED Posts: 5,021	If the Thai's want the drugs, then let them pay for it themselves.

Jul 14, 2005, 10:14 am	#9 (permalink) (top)
Matt W Moderator Location: Reading, UK. Posts: 5,709	Seeing as the Thai government pioneered the drugs....they can set whatever price they wish to their people, surely?? I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered. -George Best, on being asked what he did with his footballing fortunes.

Jul 14, 2005, 11:17 am	#10 (permalink) (top)
Forseti Free market believer Location: Eugene OR Posts: 23	They may be putting out a cheap aids drug but I’m curious. Does it actually help at all? I mean you don’t hear of to many wonder drugs coming from the scientific minds of Thailand. Then again I may be wrong and if so please state how.

Jul 14, 2005, 11:24 am	#11 (permalink) (top)
Matt W Moderator Location: Reading, UK. Posts: 5,709	If you read the link, you'll see that whilst they may not have developed the drug itself, it would appear that the Pharmecutical Organisation have produced a combination of the drugs in one pill - which would appear to be a significant development in itself. I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered. -George Best, on being asked what he did with his footballing fortunes.

Jul 14, 2005, 12:19 pm	#12 (permalink) (top)
Trotsky Stront vir breins Posts: 511	These drugs are patent rip offs. In other words they are just synthesis of already available (but rediculously expensive) drugs from the market. The big four hold most of the patents into anti-retrovirals as they are the only ones with the finacial clout to do the research. All the Thai government are doing is paying state chemical companies to synthesise the drugs according to the patents which are freely available from the USPO and the EPO. The accuracy of the chemistry in the patents can be a bit sketchy, with some information being selectively ommited, but any chemist with a brain should be able to sort these out without much hassle. "Life is like a box of choclates.......it makes you fat and somebody else has taken all the nice ones" Middle East.. "The vile leading the stupid to kill the decent in the name of the holy."

Jul 14, 2005, 07:21 pm	#13 (permalink) (top)
oranged fanatic and profound Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 335	I think what's happening in Thailand is exellent news, exept that Thailand isn't the country that needs it the most, Lesotho is, or maybe South Africa. I think all countries should have free healthcare, food, legal assistence, and housing, not to mention extremly high taxes which I think would be worth it. "It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it."- Aung San Suu Kyi

Jul 14, 2005, 09:43 pm	#14 (permalink) (top)
bishop moderat-e/o-r Location: boston Posts: 11,184	i don't know much about medicine and diseases... what's the purpose of this medication? to keep prostitutes visibly healthy so they can continue working the streets and spreading aids? i remember reading something a while back about how the thai government was trying to crack down on prostitution, but i'm not sure if much progress has been made. prostitution's part of their social fabric, and somewhere near 50% of them are hiv positive.. aids drugs are nice, but they won't do anything to actually stop new cases of aids. hope for america... http://www.ronpaul2008.com/

Jul 15, 2005, 06:40 am	#18 (permalink) (top)
mr.perfecto Igneous Magma Posts: 632	What would be wrong with that? It not like HIV/AIDs is a chronic condition caused by pollution...

Jul 15, 2005, 06:43 am	#19 (permalink) (top)
Matt W Moderator Location: Reading, UK. Posts: 5,709	Ah, the joys of compassion...as has been said somewhere above, a government has a duty of care towards it's citizens.... :rolleyes: I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered. -George Best, on being asked what he did with his footballing fortunes.

Jul 15, 2005, 06:54 am	#20 (permalink) (top)
mr.perfecto Igneous Magma Posts: 632	Compassion doesn't include coddling those who harm but in helping the victim and justly punishing the perpetrator. All the government is doing is making parents look like fools for steering their kids away from the brothels and bath houses.