It might mean the government's universal healthcare scheme could double the distribution of the anti-retroviral efavirenz drugs, said NHSO boss Dr Sa-nguan Nitayarumphong.

Efavirenz was the first HIV drug to receive a compulsory government license.

The government could also save up to 40 per cent on distribution of the second compulsorily licensed HIV drug, Kaletra, allowing its distribution to more than 50 per cent more of those patients who were initially turned down for treatment, Sa-nguan said.

He said the compulsory licensing on Plavix, the anti-platelet drug, which is used by heart disease patients, would allow the government to buy a generic version of the medication at a sixth of the price. Before compulsory licensing, only 20 per cent of patients who needed the drug received the medication but this will change when the treatment prices tumble, added Sa-nguan. The compulsory licensing would help to save at least Bt200 million a year in case of efavirenz, Bt200 million for Kaletra and Bt600 million on the Plavix budget, he said.

All together, the country could free up more than Bt1 billion after the compulsory licensing of the three drugs, said Sa-nguan.