Andrew is an Indonesian man who is living in Chiang Mai and has a student visa. As a gay man who is living with HIV, he knows that it is important to eat healthily, exercise regularly, and of course, take his antiretroviral drugs (ARV) daily, as prescribed.

Having chosen to live abroad, Andrew needs to buy his own HIV medicine. However, he never encounters any problems in obtaining ARV in Thailand.

“I am quite lucky that the access to antiretroviral therapy in Thailand, particularly in Chiang Mai, where I live, is available not only for the Thais, but also for foreigners,” he said,

adding that he has been purchasing ARV from HUGSA Medical for a while.

What is ARV?

ARV stands for antiretroviral and these are the medications that are currently used to treat HIV. While it is not a cure for HIV, the ARV drugs reduce the HIV spread within the body and anyone living with HIV may live a long and healthy life as long as they take the medicine as prescribed.

What are the benefits of taking ARV drugs?

ARV drugs do not kill the virus. However, they will block the life cycle of HIV and stop them from duplicating copies of the virus. Continuing ARV treatment will decrease the number of HIV copies within the body to a level that it is considered undetectable.

When a person who is living with HIV achieves undetectable status, they will guarantee their health and it will prevent them from infecting their partners even without the use of condoms. Women who are living with HIV and wish to have children will also significantly lower the risk of transmitting the virus to their babies.

U=U: Undetectable = Untransmittable

You might see a movement on social media such as Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag U=U: Undetectable = Untransmittable. In order to achieve U = U, you must do the following steps:

• Take ARV drugs daily at the same exact time
• Get another HIV test in three or six months to confirm whether you achieve U = U
• Continues ARV treatment uninterrupted / Without missing doses

If you do not achieve an undetectable viral load even after six months of ARV treatment, there is no need to worry. Please consult with HUGSA Medical, your local healthcare provider, for further advice. In this case, you might have to change the type of ARV drugs that you are taking.

Please also bear in mind that ARV drugs do not kill HIV. The virus is merely being suppressed in your body and it is ‘sleeping’. You have to continue taking ARV drugs otherwise the virus may re-emerge in your body. Missing doses regularly will increase the chance for the HIV in your body to develop resistance toward your antiretroviral regimen.

Can I obtain ARV in Chiang Mai?

Yes, you can. In Thailand, the access to ARV drugs is not only available for the Thai people but also for foreigners in the country.

Anwar is a Malaysian who has lived and worked in Chiang Mai for several years. He stated that having a work permit allows him to obtain free medication for HIV positive people.

“The doctors here are also very nice to me, and I can feel that they really care about my well-being. I’ve never felt any sort of discrimination from them even though I am living with HIV,” he said.

While ARV drugs are only free for Thai people and expats with work permits, foreigners who do not have work permits can still buy HIV medicine in Thailand and the prices are reasonable.

Meanwhile, Ahmad, who visited Chiang Mai to receive treatment for his drug addiction at a rehab center, said that he never had a problem in obtaining ARV drugs.

“No trouble at all. They have the types of ARV drugs that my doctor prescribed me and they are relatively affordable,” he said.

How do I get ARV in Chiang Mai?

1. Here at HUGSA Medical, we provide several types of ARV drugs. Please make an appointment with us through our website, Facebook page, or email. You can also use our walk-in service, and generally you do not have to wait long for an appointment.
2. If you have never had an HIV test before, we will provide counseling as well as a blood test to determine your status. The process is fast and inexpensive.
3. If you already know your HIV status and it is positive, you might be required to provide your medical record so we can get a better picture of your health condition.
4. The doctor will prescribe you the ARV drugs that you need and then you pay the bills at the cashier. You can take your ARV drugs home after and call us again if you need further consultation.

Andrew, who has been living in Chiang Mai for two years, admitted that at first he went to a hospital in another city in Thailand. He said that they wanted to charge him a lot of money for ARV.

Therefore, he was happy when he found out about HUGSA Medical from a friend and, after visiting, learned that his ARV treatment did not have to be so costly.

“I am so lucky to be one of their patients. I cannot thank HUGSA Medical enough,” Andrew added.

Can I still get ARV drugs easily amid COVID-19 pandemic?

Yes, definitely.

According to UNAIDS, local hospitals will distribute ARV drugs to people living with HIV for three- to six-month supply to prevent them from running out of medicines and to reduce their need to visit the hospitals during the pandemic.

Here at HUGSA Medical, we also have connections to ARV drugs suppliers so you do not have to worry about low supply of ARV drugs.

Read other interesting articles.

• What is a medical certificate?
• PEP in Chiang Mai

Contact Us Here

Our Numbers
Tel: +66 (0)93 309 9988
Or add Line id @hugsaclinic
Open Daily 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Our Address:
77/7 Kochasan Road Chang Khlan Sub-district
Mueang Chiangmai Thailand 50100
Google Map: https://g.page/hugsa-medical?share
Website: https://cmmedicalclinic.com
Booking Online: https://hugsa.youcanbook.me
Email Address: hugsamedical@gmail.com