and standard procedure is what!?? the drug companies want the maximum profits for their investments, naturally. They have, howevr, developed some drugs that are sorely needed in third world countries to combat AIDS and other serious illnesses

Thailand does not have a health service that is "free at point of service", and most Thais do not earn enough to buy the drugs at their inflated prices. So many people have been dying because they cannot afford the drugs.

There are three ways out of this impasse:

1. The government should buy the drugs at the inflated prices and then give them to the patients. Thailand cannot really afford to do this as their economy is not very strong (they are still classed as a third world country)

2. The goverment can unilaterally declare that the drugs can be made in Thailand and sold to the patients at affordable prices.

3. The drug companies could cut their prices to cost and supply third world countries

Thailand has opted for 2.; hopefully this will lead to 3.