Abstract
Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs)
- highly effective, recommended treatment for Pf malaria
- 228 million doses are needed to treat Pf cases; approx. 100 million doses distributed per annum (2010 RBM)
Despite free or highly subsidised provision, limited access and availability of ACTs in public sector has resulted in poor coverage
- 3%-21% of febrile children in Africa receive ACT (2008/10 ACTwatch)
Many seek treatment from private sector retailers
- Retail prices for ACT are 4-22 times higher than those of older, less effective antimalarials (e.g. CQ, SP)
- Most retail customers purchase less effective antimalarials, artemisinin monotherapies (AMTs), or just painkillers