E-DRUG: WHO urges drug co's to stop selling single artemisinin malaria drugs (4)
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dear E-druggers,
From an economic point of view some drug manufacturers may not like the idea of producing only ACTs but I venture to say that if we do not stop the artemisinin monotherapy it may not take a decade before the drug becomes useless in the treatment of malaria particularly in the endemic areas.
Example of the use of artemisinin monotherapy in wiping out malaria in some developed communities is clearly not an issue. In the poor endemic areas there is the challenge of non-compliance worsened by lack of knowledge and poverty.
My research team is currently working on the use of the ACTs and artemisinin monotherapy in a Nigerian community prompted by the fear that compliance may be a significant challenge in the usefulness of this near wonder malaria drug in the nearest future. All artemisinin products can very easily be obtained over the counter in many drug stores in my country.
We can better imagine the implication of symptomatic relief being taken as complete cure which lack of knowledge and poverty promotes.
The manufacturers should please help us. If only ACTs are manufactured the fear of illegal importation of the mono form will also be reduced.
The position of WHO is commendable. The organisation may work out ways of assisting the companies to comply.
Wilson O. Erhun. B.Pharm.,MBA; M.Sc;Ph.D; FPCPharm
Ag. Head
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Administration
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Nigeria
mercyerhun@yahoo.co.uk