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testBKK (operated by APCOM) in collaboration with civil society organizations Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand (RSAT), Service Workers Foundation (SWING), MPlus Foundation (MPLUS), Caremat Foundation, Institute for HIV Research and Innovation (IHRI) and civil society organizations across Thailand
testBKK is an online campaign on sexual health and HIV awareness in Thailand and supports people to access knowledge, prevention and treatment that is easy and friendly for LGBTIQ people and other risk groups, drug users, sex workers and youth
Following the announcement of the Minister of Public Health Do not allow service units that are not hospitals to dispense PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis within 72 hours) drugs. Users must receive services from government service facilities according to their rights.
We would like to call on the Minister of Public Health to maintain the original system of having clinics and civil society organizations distribute PrEP and PEP, including supporting the budget to create access to various services to make it easy for people to access, in order to reduce the risk of HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.
The public's concerns about this issue, from online communities, have raised many questions about government services for HIV and AIDS prevention, which can be divided into the following topics:
Service provision: It was found that government services take longer to wait in line, and the steps to receive services are many. To understand the services, it may take more than 1 hour or half a day, which wastes time working or taking leave to receive medicine, unlike civil society clinics where you can book services in advance and receive services easily and quickly.
Stigma and discrimination: People are still worried when they go to receive services. They will encounter services that stigmatize and discriminate against those receiving medicine as being at-risk groups, LGBTQ groups. In reality, those who take PrEP or PEP do not necessarily have frequent sex or risky behaviors. They only take the medication to prevent the chance of getting HIV.
Personal information When receiving a check-up at a government hospital, you may need to use your ID card and personal information to receive the service. Users are also concerned about the state's data protection.
Due to concerns and initial problems, we call on Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, to consider and review the distribution of PrEP and PEP drug dispensing services to maintain the original format that civil society can still operate. We also encourage civil society to increase service units in various areas in the provinces so that people can access the services and reduce the transmission rate until the goal of ending AIDS is achieved by 2030.
Referring to
1. The NHSO board resolution to postpone the health promotion budget for those who are not gold card holders
“The NHSO Fund Announcement for 2023 as announced by the Minister of Public Health Lomnam has resulted in the country's HIV prevention work being limited to only those with gold card rights and has affected all prevention policies in the country.”
2. The National Health Security Board Announcement Regarding the principles of operation and management of the National Health Security Fund for fiscal year 2023, which has policies and laws that do not facilitate people to access public health services equally and universally
3. A letter explaining the guidelines for PrEP service provision by the Department of Health Service Support, Ministry of Public Health, resulting in community organizations being unable to provide PrEP and PEP prevention services to service recipients because it violates the Hospital Act
Information about PrEP and PEP
https://testsgn.org/safesex/
