Elements dictating the fate of artemisinin combination therapy in India

Dipanjan Bhattacharjee, G Shiva Prakash, Thomson Rose Sereen

Annals of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 2017 10(1):7-12

Over the course of its existence in India, Artemisinin combination therapy (ACT), has emerged as the titular tool at mankind's disposal to counter falciparum malaria related mortalities. The dramatic slide in reported deaths due to Plasmodium falciparum is a testament to ACT's efficacy. However, a closer look reveals the successes so far achieved with ACT to be only a smokescreen. A large majority of the patients in the more remote and backward regions of India, still remain bereft of ACT, which might be the reason for the startling malaria mortality figures reported by the community surveillances. In our manuscript, we have laid focus on the key facets of the Indian health care system that has purportedly played a central role in the present successes with ACT. Further, we have highlighted as to how these key elements, for instance, health workers like Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), sub-centers, supply chain of ACT can be improved upon further so as to ensure that ACT is able to reach the truly needy.

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