Antiretroviral treatment in resource-poor settings: what can we learn from the existing programmes in Thailand?

Here we review a number of issues of relevance to the scale-up of antiretroviral therapy in Thailand. Thailand has an estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS of approximately 600,000. Currently less than 10% of those are receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. Government commitment to increase the numbers of individuals being treated has increased because of advocacy from various sectors of society, most importantly from organizations of individuals living with HIV/AIDS, decreasing antiretroviral drug prices, the availability of external funds, and the example of successful treatment initiatives by non-governmental organizations, academia and the private sector. It has also been prompted by the hosting of the 2004 International AIDS Conference in Bangkok.