Thailand plans to extend health service to HIV patients

BANGKOK, April 20 (TNA) -Thai government-run health agencies have planned to set up primary medical care units for HIV patients for effective treatment and relieve burden of some local hospitals. Dr. Sorakit Pakeecheep, director of the HIV/AIDS service fund under the National Health Security Office (NHSO), said his office along with the Disease Control Department plans to launch a project to create primary medical care units for HIV/AIDS patients. The project will be run this year until 2016 under five million baht budget. Concerned officials are select areas to launch a pilot project. Training will be offered to personnel who will be tasked with taking care of the patients. More than 250,000 HIV patients are receiving treatment from about 900 hospitals nationwide, said Dr. Sopon Mekthon, director-general of Disease Control Department. Out of the total hospitals, some 50 of them have to take care over 1,000 patients each. Some health care service providers are small community hospitals which do not have sufficient medical personnel. (TNA)