Global subsidy for malaria

A new subsidy for malaria medicines on a global scale needs to ensure that quality patient care remains the key objective, according to a team of experts.

The Affordable Medicines Facility – malaria (AMFm) subsidy will be rolled out this year to help combat the problem of poor access to artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) for malaria.

However, Tido von Schoen-Angerer and colleagues wrote in the journal PLoS Medicine that quality care will be central to the scheme's success.

"The AMFm is an innovative but untested global initiative with the potential for both positive and unintended consequences for health," the authors stated.

"Keeping the focus on quality care - through patient-centred policies on drug choice, diagnostics, delivery, and M&E - will help the AMFm to meet the long unfulfilled promise of artemisinin for the millions who continue to suffer from malaria today."

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria is hosting the AMFm and 11 countries will initially be involved.

These are Benin, Cambodia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda.

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