Activists urge HIV policy reversal

Nursing students at Bangkok’s Police Hospital rehearse their moves for a campaign to mark World Aids Day in 2019. The campaign was aimed to encourage communities in the capital to continue working toward the government’s goal of eradicating Aids by 2030. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)

Aids activists are urging the government to revise a new Ministry of Health policy that bars clinics operated by civil society groups from providing HIV treatments to the public.

Chayodhom Samibat, 39, a white-collar worker, said he was dismayed after learning the Public Health Ministry has begun enforcing a policy that prevents the clinics from providing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatments.