# \[e-drug\] Drug companies agree to stop single artemisinine? (2) **URL:** \ **Category:** e-drug\ **Created:** [July 12, 2006, 9:45am UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-drug-companies-agree-to-stop-single-artemisinine-2/25832 "2006-07-12T09:45:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KAZEEM\_BABATUNDE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@KAZEEM\_BABATUNDE](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/KAZEEM_BABATUNDE)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 9:45am UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-drug-companies-agree-to-stop-single-artemisinine-2/25832/1 "2006-07-12T09:45:27Z")
E-DRUG: Drug companies agree to stop single artemisinine? (2) -------------------------------------------- Dear E-Drugger, Perusing Dr Kochi's profile and idiosnycracies as an avowed result-driven public health specialist makes an interesting reading. I am so happy that he is in charge of the malaria desk in WHO. Perhaps, the million of vulnerable underserved population in developing world, who bear the heaviest of the financial and human costs of malaria will now have a better deal. To win the war against malaria and other public health challenge such as HIv/Aids, TB etc certainly require an unpretentious, unrepentant and decisive result-driven approach, diplomatic niceties or not. Dr Kochi is indeed a "breath of fresh air" and I dare say, "fresh antimalaria air". As for disappearance of single-product artemisinine in the antimalaria market, that is not the situation in Nigeria, the most populous black nation on earth. The country recently enacted a new antimalaria treatment policy discarding the use of choloroquine and sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine as first line for ACT combinations. This change was met with serious opposition from a cross-section of stakeholders on health care in Nigeria. A number of reasons were adduced for this opposition, some genuine, others economic and selfish. As thing stand now in Nigeria, many generic brands of single artemisinine and its derivatives are being sold and used with or without prescription. They are cheaper than the ACT combinations, most of which are branded innovator compounds, hence more expensive and out of reach of majority of the populace. A course of generic single product arteminine derivatives cost between 250 and 400 Nigerian Naira, while the branded ACT combinations cost about 1000 naira. Although both drugs are out of reach of most Nigerians, those who buy the artemsinine derivatives may be buying the single product artemisinine for economic reason. Furthermore self-medication with the now discarded choloroquine and other drugs as patients' first reponse to presumptive features of malaria is still pervasive. These discarded drugs are still being actively promoted , distributed, sold and use for treatment of malaria,in Nigeria; of course with negative influence on morbidity and mortality data. This problems are certainly not peculiar to Nigeria. I am sure it is now clear why the malaria desk at WHO need somebody in the mould of Dr Kochi. Kazeem Babatunde Yusuff Dept. of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Administration Faculty of Pharmacy University of Ibadan Ibadan, Nigeria. Tel:234-80-37220220 e-mail: yusuffkby@yahoo.co.uk ---
**Author:** ![Funmi\_Oduniyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f14d63/32.png) [@Funmi\_Oduniyi](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/Funmi_Oduniyi)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-drug-companies-agree-to-stop-single-artemisinine-2/25832/2 "2006-07-14T22:30:00Z")
E-DRUG: Drug companies agree to stop single artemisinine? (3) -------------------------------------------------- Well said Sir! You need to see what we go through in actual community practice. People who insist on monotherapy with artemisine derivates, chloroquine or Sulphadoxine/Pyrimethamine and who go to various lengths to purchase them against advice. I have actually seen cases of those who took these options and then come back to complain and after much persuasion (because of the cost implications, agree to have a blood test and then they still have malaria only then do they agree to go for the branded ACTs). I dare say I have seen someone who still tested positive for MP after claiming to have taken an artemisine derivative, though I cannot prove whether indeed it was taken at all or appropraitely. Its not just about cost, which is a significant issue, but working on public awareness. I am collating data on actual treatment failures following malaria chemotherapy and would appreciate any contibutions. Thanks to all who are fighting the good cause. Funmi Oduniyi (MRPharmS, MPSN) Pharmaklinic, Ibadan, Nigeria fumken@yahoo.co.uk