A global subsidy for antimalarial drugs

作者:Gelband Hellen*; Seiter Andreas
来源:The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2007, 77(6): 219-221.
DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.2007.77.219

摘要

In 2004, the Institute of Medicine concluded that a global high-level subsidy was the best way to make effective antimalarial drugs-currently, artemisinin-combination therapies (ACTs)-widely available at affordable prices and at the same time Substantially delay the emergence and spread of artemisinin-resistant strains of falciparum malaria. The subsidy would be available to manufacturers of all ACTS meeting pre-specified efficacy, safety, and quality criteria. Buyers would pay very low prices, allowing drugs to flow through existing channels, with the aim of reaching consumers at a similar price to chloroquine, the most frequently used (although no longer effective) malaria drug. Unsubsidized, artemisinin monotherapies would be more expensive than subsidized ACTS (co -formulations), thereby largely eliminating their use through market forces. Conditions favoring the emergence of artemisinin-resistant malaria would be greatly reduced. The global high-level subsidy is a powerful idea that is moving from economic concept to pragmatic reality.