Malaria Treatment & Prevention

Multiple first-line treatments (MFT) for malaria: Are we ready?

Started by Prashant Yadav on 17 Oct 2009
Last edited by Kileken ole-MoiYoi on 12 Nov 2009

The national treatment policy in most endemic countries is a single first-line therapy for uncomplicated malaria. This strategy may not be the most effective from the perspective of slowing the spread of drug resistance. Some new studies such as (Boni, Smith and Laxminarayan 2008) recommend the use of multiple first-line therapies (MFT) that may delay the emergence of resistance. Many new drugs have now become available within the ACT class and many others are likely to be launched over the next few years. Thus MFT is now theoretically feasible.

However, many operational and logistical challenges remain around how to successfully roll out multiple first line treatments.

Keywords: Diagnostics & Treatment