The ministry of health is phasing out the use malaria drug combination of chloroquin and fasidar following reports that malaria patients are becoming resistant to the drug. A research by the World Health Organization in Uganda shows that 30% of the patients with malaria on the chloroquine and fasidar treatment dose do not respond to the medicine.
chloroquine and fasidar which have been popular drugs in Uganda for several years are to be replaced by Arteminisinin combination therapy a new drug for malaria to be launched in the country. This follows an increased number of malaria patients becoming resistant to them.
Addressing the press at the ministry of health headquarters, the minister of State for Primary Health Care Dr. Emmanuel Otala said that the two drugs have become less effective and unnecessarily expensive for many Ugandans.
He said that while COARTEM is still one of the best drugs on the market it remains for the common man to Arteminisinin which will cost 200 for children and 800 adults.
The Ministry of Health and Medicines for malaria Venture have agreed to lead the consortium for ACT private sector subsidy to carry out an initiative to responsibly provide a highly subsidized ACT through the private sector.
