Uganda to provide malaria drug coartem to clinics at reduced price

Uganda's Ministry of Health will provide the artemisinin-based combination therapy Coartem to private health clinics at subsidized prices to curb the spread of malaria in the country, Minister of State for Primary Health Care Emmanuel Otaala said Wednesday, New Vision reports.

According to Otaala, the ministry also will monitor distribution of the drugs and provide training to health care workers (Ariko, New Vision, 9/18). Ugandan Prime Minister Apollo Nsibambi launched the program on Friday, the African Press Agency reports (African Press Agency, 9/18).

The program, which will be implemented by the health ministry and Medicines for Malaria Venture, will provide Coartem to children for 200 Ugandan shillings, or about 12 cents, and to adults for 800 Ugandan shillings, or about 50 cents. Coartem typically costs between 12,000 and 18,000 Ugandan shillings, or between $7.40 and $11.20, at private clinics. According to Otaala, studies have found that 40% to 60% of Uganda's population visits private clinics for initial malaria treatment, even though government clinics distribute malaria drugs at no cost. Otaala said the subsidized drug program aims to increase the availability of ACTs and reduce the use of older treatments such as chloroquine and fansidar, which have become less effective because of a rise in drug resistance.

"A big proportion of our population still receives ineffective medicines," Otaala said, adding that earlier drugs should be phased out to "ensure that people get lifesaving" ACTs. According to Chris Hentschel, CEO of MMV, ACTs can improve malaria symptoms within a few hours and destroy malaria parasites within three days.

Additional partners in the project include the International Dispensary Association, Malaria Consortium, Management Sciences for Health and Uganda's National Drug Authority, New Vision reports (New Vision, 9/18).