HIV rate surge spurs ministry to act
The ministry has acknowledged an alarming rise in HIV infections among Thai youths. Deputy Public Health Minister Chaichana Dechdecho announced plans to sign memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with educational institutions to distribute condoms and provide sexual health education to help curb the trend and prevent further infections.
The issue was raised during a Senate session in parliament yesterday, presided over by Deputy Senate Speaker Gen Kriengkrai Srirak. Senator Parinya Wongcheodkwan questioned the rising HIV infection rate in Thailand and the ministry's long-term strategy, budget allocation, and spending on both prevention campaigns and treatment for people living with HIV, including the costs related to foreign nationals receiving care.
In response, Mr Chaichana confirmed that although the overall HIV infection rate is declining, there has been a noticeable increase among youths. To address this, the ministry is preparing to collaborate with schools and universities through MoUs.
The initiative will involve distributing condoms and offering education on safe sexual practices to prevent HIV transmission.
"We aim to keep new infections below 1,000 cases annually and limit HIV-related deaths to under 4,000 per year.
"The reported figure of 8,000 new cases we see includes cumulative data. We expect the number of new infections in the latter half of the year to stay under 3,000," Mr Chaichana stated.
He added that the ministry will increase access to HIV testing and form partnerships with private sector companies in high-risk areas. Provinces with rising HIV cases include Bangkok, Chon Buri, Khon Kaen, and Nakhon Ratchasima -- all of which experience significant tourist activity, he added.
Regarding the budget, Mr Chaichana explained that Thailand allocates approximately 8.4 billion baht annually for HIV prevention and treatment. Of this, 7.7 billion baht comes from domestic funding, while 788 million baht is supported by international contributions. The funding includes 6.2 billion baht for antiretroviral drugs and 1.2 billion baht for prevention efforts.
Out of the 500,000 people currently receiving treatment, over 5,700 are foreign nationals. The average annual treatment cost is 12,000 baht.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bangkok Post
7 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Preserved corpses at ‘HIV temple' to be cremated
Authorities will cremate more than 20 preserved corpses found at Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu, long known for caring for people living with HIV/Aids, in Lop Buri on Saturday, following a public outcry over the temple's long-standing display of Aids patients' remains in its museum. Phra Khru Suwat Kittisarn, named acting supervisor of the temple after Luang Phor Alongkot resigned as abbot, said on Thursday that relatives would be contacted where possible. 'If no families can be found, the temple will cremate the remains and record the names with the ashes to avoid future disputes,' he added. The resignation of Luang Phor Alongkot, who founded Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu, followed revelations about possible financial impropriety and mismanagement of public donations at the high-profile temple. The bodies, some preserved since 1992, were discovered during a recent inspection by officials from the Ministry of Public Health. Human bones wrapped in white cloth were also found stored in large quantities, raising concerns under the Cemetery and Crematorium Act. Thanakrit Jit-areerat, secretary to the health minister, said on Wednesday that the displays, originally intended as a lesson in impermanence, had to be brought into compliance with the law. Mr Thanakrit said that authorities were reviewing whether the temple's decades-long medical activities fell outside its remit, as it was never formally licensed as a healthcare facility despite caring for hundreds of people living with HIV. The National Health Security Office is also examining whether donations to the temple were used in line with their stated purposes, while a special committee has been formed to oversee its finances and assets during the transition, said Mr Thanakrit. Donations to the temple have fallen sharply since Luang Phor Alongkot stepped down last week amid growing controversy about the preserved bodies in the temple museum, said Phra Khru Suwat. Luang Phor Alongkot said he resigned to allow full transparency in investigations but admitted the temple, which spends at least 200,000 baht daily on patient care, is now facing financial strain. Phra Khru Suwat said his immediate focus was restoring stability and improving facilities for more than 200 patients and staff still at the temple. 'The temple will continue its mission of compassion,' he said. 'But the cremation of the 20 bodies must now be carried out with dignity.' In related news, the Debsirin Alumni Association said it had removed Luang Phor Alongkot's name from its Hall of Fame after confirming he never studied at the school, despite years of being honoured as a distinguished alumnus. The association admitted that it had failed to verify his record properly, stating that the monk's widely respected charitable work had led them to accept his background without question.
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Hospitals probed for fake health certificates
Some private hospitals in Thailand have been accused of issuing fake health certificates to migrant workers, according to Deputy Public Health Minister Chaichana Dechdecho. He said two or three private hospitals were under investigation for allegedly selling fake certificates without conducting proper health examinations. 'We are investigating the facts, including the procedures and methods used,' he said on Tuesday. 'If found guilty, the hospitals involved will have their licences revoked, along with the medical licences of the doctors who signed the certificates.' Mr Chaichana stressed that issuing false medical certificates constitutes a serious breach of medical ethics. 'These hospitals certified migrant workers without blood tests or X-rays. If such individuals bring infectious diseases into the country, it endangers both the nation and the Thai people,' he warned. Recruitment companies conducting mobile health checks have also been instructed to submit to close monitoring by the Department of Disease Control and local hospitals. 'If wrongdoing is confirmed with clear evidence, I will personally oversee the enforcement,' he said. 'This cannot be left unresolved.'
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Minister inspects HIV temple after abbot's exit
Prime Minister's Office Minister Suchart Tancharoen on Tuesday visited Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu in Lop Buri to gather facts after its abbot resigned, paving the way for an investigation into the management of six foundations linked to the temple renowned for its care of HIV/Aids patients. Reports first surfaced on Monday morning that Phra Ratcha Wisutthiprachanat, better known as Luang Phor Alongkot, had stepped down from his post. Later in the day, however, he released a video insisting he had not resigned and stressing the need to remain calm in the face of mounting pressure. By late Tuesday morning, officials confirmed that the abbot had formally submitted his resignation, which was approved by the local ecclesiastical chief. Mr Suchart arrived at the temple at about 2.30pm on Tuesday, saying he wanted to verify the facts as public information remained conflicting, particularly the financial management of the six foundations and past expenditures. 'I have not yet spoken with Luang Phor Alongkot. What I need now is accurate information before determining the next steps,' the minister said. The Office of the Prime Minister oversees the National Office of Buddhism. Phra Khru Witharn Thammavisut, the chief monk of Muang district in Lop Buri, said on Tuesday that the appointment of an acting abbot for Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu was under the direct responsibility of the tambon ecclesiastical chief. A formal appointment must later be considered by the district and provincial ecclesiastical authorities. Although Luang Phor Alongkot has vacated his post, he remains a monk at the temple and can still respond to questions, similar to a civil servant who steps aside from a position to ensure transparency during an investigation. Lop Buri governor Amphol Akkhapakornkul has ordered the relevant agencies to inspect the temple's six foundations, given that the law allows only one foundation per temple. This has raised questions over why the issue has gone unchecked for more than a decade. Earlier, Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), said police were gathering evidence to determine if any embezzlement has taken place at Wat Phra Bat Nam Phu, which operates a world-famous shelter for HIV/Aids patients. Investigators have found some inconsistencies in the information provided by a self-proclaimed spirit medium who managed donations for the temple, he said. The growing number of financial scandals involving the clergy in Thailand has led the Revenue Department to announce that paper receipts for temple donations will be replaced by e-receipts starting in January to prevent fraud. Under the new rules, only the department's electronic donation system (e-donation) will be accepted for personal income tax deductions.
