BANGKOK, June 21 (TNA) - The prime minister of the Caribbean island of St. Kitts yesterday praised Thailand for its success in controlling the spread of AIDS, and called on Thailand to provide experts and medication to help treat the island's 400-600 HIV patients.

The request was made during Prime Minister Denzil L. Douglas' official visit to Thailand this week.

Speaking after meeting Mr. Douglas yesterday, Public Health Minister Suchai Charoenratanakul said that they had discussed measures to treat HIV patients, in particular Thailand's use of anti retrovirals and its success in reducing the rate of new infections, as well as Thailand's flagship Bt30 healthcare scheme.

Following the talks, the permanent secretaries for public health of the two nations will hold further discussions.

As the first country in Southeast Asia to have successfully introduced a universal low-cost healthcare scheme, Thailand has attracted the interest of countries across the world.

It is also at the forefront of global AIDS provision, and this year will provide free anti retroviral drugs to 50,000 HIV patients, a number that will rise to Bt80,000 next year.

Government campaigns to encourage condom use have also ensured that they are used by 98 percent of men visiting brothels, while the rate of mother-to-infant HIV infection has dropped from a high of 30 percent to less than 3 percent this year.

Dr. Suchai said that Thailand would give the St. Kitts government advice on how to treat HIV patients, and would work with St. Kitts in providing HIV patients with anti retroviral medications. (TNA)--E006