HIV Treatment in Thailand - 2017 Q4 Update from a Canadian Expat in Asia

[CanadianExpat1983]

A huge Sawadee to you all from Bangkok.

I would like to share my HIV treatment experience in Bangkok which took place from 13th to 21st September 2017. No, whatever happens in Bangkok doesn't stay in Bangkok!! I have come across with a similar post by a Sigaporean dude who shared his experience around 4-5 years ago and I hope my update to be valuable for those who wish to make a trip to Bangkok to get theirs meds these days or within the next few months.

A bit of a background on myself: early 30s,  Canadian expat working in HK. HIV diagnosis came in Aug 2017 when I was on a leave of absence outside Canada and HK. I could have returned to HK for the treatment and have my insurance cover my medical costs. However, it didn't make sense to go back and forth to HK every 2 months. (As far as I am aware, I can only get 2 months of meds insured at one time). Therefore, I decided to to go ahead with option B-KK. BKK has so much to offer anyways, so I thought it would be the option best fitting to my circumstances at this point in time.

I have made a prior appointment with Dr. Mattana Havvanich at Bumrungrad Hospital for the afternoon of 13Sep2017. Based on my understanding from the amazing reviews about her online, if HIV could talk, it would call Dr. Mattana "a bitch". Anyways, I have landed in the Suvarnabhumi Airport at 9am on 13Sep2017 just to find out that my luggage hasn't made it on the same flight which normally would turn me into a mad bull but then all of a sudden the idea of going to Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Center immediately instead of my hotel appeared in my consciousness like an epiphany coming from above. I was well aware of all the tests I had to get done anyways, so I went ahead with the tests prior to my appointment with the Infection Specialist at Bumrungrad in the afternoon on the same day. Although I had a total of 2 weeks in Bangkok, I aimed to get the medical stuff out of my way so that I could fully immerse myself in the spirituality, massage, mango sticky rice and others BKK has to offer with the exception of sexual intercourse of course.

I took Uber straight from the airport, having forgotten the BKK traffic which seemed to have gotten far worse since my last visit. There was a moment of awkwardness when the driver asked whether I was going to the "AIDS Hospital" based on the destination I input on the app. Yes indeed, that's exactly where I wanted to go.

As soon as I entered the clinic (which can also be accessed by public transport, sky train called BTS, Rachamdri Station), which is an anonymous clinic by the way, you will get a queue number and register with your initials only and won't be asked for an ID. The queue moves fast and you get to see a doctor and talk about your situation and tell him you don't want to die. In addition to the standard blood tests, I also requested anal pap smear, having read numerous papers on High Grade Intra Epithelial Lesions which is considered a potential marker for anal cancer especially in HIV + MSM who engages in receptive anal sex. This procedure was not as pleasurable as I would have liked it to be. They told me most results would be available on Saturday, 16Sep2017 except Anal pap which takes up to 4 weeks.

As far as the cost is concerned, I paid THB 3,060 for all tests including CBC, liver and kidney function tests, urinalysis but excluding Drug Resistance Test.

Later on, I went to Bumrundrad Hospital without dropping by at my hotel as it was still too early for check in anyways and my luggage was somewhere in Moscow where I had a connection and I was awake for almost 24 hours straight. ( As an irrelevant side note, under no circumstances fly with Aeroflot because they simply suck!!). I have read online posts which describe Bumrungrad as having a 5 star hotel look and this is absolutely correct! A hospital filled with people coming from all over the world which they termed as Medical Tourism. You can get quite advanced treatments / surgeries at a fraction of cost you would pay in Western countries and at the same quality if not better.

You register before your appointment and wait to see your doctor. My doctor showed up 1 hour late but having read numerous excellent reviews about her, I wasn't upset or disappointed at all. We had an hour discussion on HIV treatment, medicine, and research in HIV field and reviewed treatment related charts on her computer monitor.

I highly recommend Dr. Mattana not because she refused to accept payment from me (maybe for being late or due to the thought provoking conversation we had or perhaps I am darn hot) but because of her knowledge and the way she makes you feel! I still remember the way I exactly felt when I left her room. "Everything is gonna be alright. I will live, I will love, I will dance again"). Her consultation fee ranges from 500 to 2000 Baht for those interested. They do have specialists at Thai Red Cross who come with cheaper price but some of them are not fluent in English or have patience with questions. Well, I had 3 pages of questions, so I may be slightly biased here. That said, some tests results come out on the same day at Bumrungrad whereas at TRC, the wait is longer. Decision is yours to make depending on how long you wanna stay in BKK.

I went back to TRCARC on 16Sep2017 to get my results which were as follows:

CD4 = 966 ( I was infected in July 2017, got acute HIV/seroconversion illness in Aug 2017, hence HIV has not had the chance to go viral as yet).
HIV RNA ( VL) = 13,800
All other tests , CBC, Kidney / Liver function tests and Urinalysis were perfectly normal.
Damage of the day was 520 Baht ( doctor fee of 400 and 120 service charge).

I went back again on 21Sep2017 primarily to have a screening called HIGH RESOLUTION ANASCOPY. Well, the name speaks for itself and therefore I am not gonna get into that but the doctor didn't want to perform the procedure until the Anal Pap results came in. I wouldn't blame him though. To be honest, I would rather live with HIV than view people's assholes 40x magnified on a daily basis. Anyways, instead I got my prescription and had my blood drawn again for the resistance test which I could have done on 16Sep. So, my advice is that you do all tests on day 1.

That day costed me  THB 5,000 for resistance test plus 5,500 x 5 for 5 month supply of Stribild.

Please check the expiry date of your meds through. I got 5 boxes of which the 5th box will be used up on the month of expiry. Meds were manufactured in 02/2015, expiring in 02/2018. Initially, I was planning to buy 6 boxes ( 6 months of supply). However, the 6th box would have expired by the time I get to it, lose its efficacy, lead to drug resistance and cause me to die in the most excruciating pain anyone ever experienced in the history of humankind.

In any case, blood tests, anal pep, doctor fees and 5 month of meds costed me a total of around USD 1,100 altogether.

Hope this info assists someone who is willing to take advantage of the expertise, convenience and low cost of HIV treatment Thailand has to offer.

By the way, I heard tbatGenvoya and Triumeq brothers are making their way to Thailand in the near future ( 2017 Q4 is the word on the street). Stay tuned and never forget your thoughts are more powerful than you think.

[lightalltheway]

Tank you so much for your informative post. I am happy that you left BKK with positive attitude, I believe we all need to feel secure somehow.

I would like to ask you, does your Dr. At Bumengrad hospital accepted your lab results from the Tai Red Cross Clinic? or you had to re-do them at the hospital itself? if so, how much is the difference in price if you don't mind me asking?

Also, where did you stay and how long for?

The reason I am asking you is because I am doing my research because I am planning to undergo the same travel as yours and for the same purpose.

Light all the way,
Prince

[CanadianExpat1983]

Hi there,

I went to Bumrungrad without any results at hand. Just needed to talk to someone who is an expert at this field. After, my results came out, I did not go back to Bumrungrad. I just spoke with the doctors at Thai Research Center. Not sure about the cost of tests at Brungrad but I suppose at least double the price. Especially Resistance Test. Doctors at both hospitals will except results from other clinics, even other countries. My advice is to for the tests at TRC, wait for your results ,talk to your doctor at TRC. If you aren't satisfied, then go to Bumrungrad.

I am still in Bangkok. Staying here for a total of 16 days. Not just for treatment. Booked my accommodation on Airbnb and stayed at 4 different condos ( moving to a new place every 4 days). This is just my preference. All luxury condos cost me around 40~50 usd per night. You can find much cheaper options. I am just putting my shit back together. Regaining my lost muscles after seroconversion illness and reconnecting with the universe I am back to 100% and I haven't even started the meds. Will wait till next week and start in Canada.

[CanadianExpat1983]

Until Nov 2017, Thai Red Cross will only have Stribild manufactured in 02/2015 expiring in 02/2018. You won't be able to get a 6 month supply! If you are intending to make a trip within 2 months, you should keep this in mind.

[lightalltheway]

Thank you for your clarification. I will surely keep it in mind while making the arrangement's, I hope you are find and healthy though. Very happy to know that you followed up your health during very early stage. After a personal suffering, I believe knowing your status as early as possible is a key factor in your overall health ..

Light all the way
Prince

[Axiom]

Good info.

I'm also in bkk and do exactly as you suggest; use the TRC for bloodwork and pills, and consult with a private ID specialist.
My doctor at bumrungrad accepts results without issue, in fact he suggested that I test there.  The prices are a fraction of the cost at bumrungrad....(18000thb+ for cd4, VL, urinalysis)

TRC price list:
http://en.trcarc.org/?page_id=632

Going for tests is pretty quick, I'm generally in and out in around 15 mins.
The turn around for my test results is 7 days, and the results are emailed.

Even though the doctors at TRC will of course consult with you, due to the charitable nature of the red cross, and that, as foreigners in Thailand, we generally have a higher income/more savings I'd recommend seeking out your own ID doctor at a private hospital (i pay 1000b), allowing the TRC to consult with more people that have no other option.

Be well

[CanadianExpat1983]

https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines

Actually   not that hard to monitor ourselves. You need your test and meds at TRC only. Shame they don't offer Genvoya/Triumeq at TRC and when they do IN the future, it won't be under patient access program as far as I can anticipate.