Networks of HIV sufferers in five Greater Mekong countries are working together to develop free access to anti retroviral drugs, as the Thai government gears up for this month's 15th International AIDS Conference in Bangkok by pushing its policy of providing assistance to AIDS patients in neighboring nations.

Speaking in the run-up to the conference, which Thailand will host on July 11-16, Kamol Upakaeow, President of the Thai Network of HIV/AIDS Patients, was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying Sunday that networks of AIDS patients in the five Mekong countries of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand were working together to exchange ideas and experiences.

Attention was particularly focused on access to anti-retrovirals in each country, with campaigns to abolish patents on drugs for AIDS sufferers, he said.

After the International AIDS Conference, networks of AIDS sufferers from all five Mekong countries are set to organize a second round of in-depth meetings in Thailand on the provision of anti-retroviral drugs in the region, a movement which will be led by Thailand-based organizations.

Source: Xinhua