Thailand achieved several key milestones in expanding access to HIV/AIDS treatment between 1999-2010: 1) In 1999, civil society called for compulsory licensing of ddI, starting Thailand down the path of using compulsory licensing to increase access to antiretrovirals. 2) Between 2000-2005 the government committed to including antiretrovirals in the Universal Coverage Scheme and began local production of generic antiretrovirals. 3) By October 2005, antiretroviral therapy was officially included in the Universal Coverage Scheme, marking a major milestone in achieving universal treatment access in Thailand.

1. Key Milestones of Access
to Treatment in Thailand
1999: calling for CL for ddI
2000 – 2001: Universal Health Insurance Bill
2000 – 2002: ddI court cases
Oct 2003:
local production
of generic ARV
Jun 2004: Thai-US FTA negotiation was launched
Jul 2004: XV IAC
in Bangkok +
Government committed
to include ARV into UCS
Apr 2005: 4th round Thai-US FTA negotiation in Pattaya + civil society’s demonstration
October 2005: Inclusion
of ART into the UCS
Jan 2006: 6th round Thai-US FTA
negotiation in Chiangmai
+ civil society’s protest
+ nation-wide media coverage
Sep 2006: Military Coup + Thai-US FTA negotiation suspension
Dec 2006: CL
on Efavirenz
Late 2006: Combid pre-grant opposition
Jan 2007: CL on Kaletra and Plavix
Jan 2008: CL use on
4 cancer drugs
Apr 2008: The minister
changed decision
Mar 2008: New Minister of
Public Health announced
to review CL policy
Aug 2010: CL extension for
ARVs
2007: Abbott withdrew the registration
of 7 new drugs
2007: US gov’t downgraded Thailand to PWL
2007: Threatening letters from
the US and EU gov’t to the Thai gov’t
2007: Threatening letters to Indian generic-drug firms
2008: USTR report
remaining Thailand in PWL
PRE-CL
POST-CL
CL
Voluntary
Licensing:
HCV DAAs
2003: CCC Center
2003: NHSO