National Drug Policy for Malaria (2013)

The National Drug Policy for Malaria (2013) has been formulated with following objectives:

• Reducing morbidity by prompt and complete treatment of suspected/confirmed malaria cases
• Prevention of progression of uncomplicated malaria into severe malaria and thereby reduce malaria mortality
• Prevention of relapses by administration of radical treatment
• Preventing transmission of malaria by use of gametocytocidal drugs
• Preventing development of drug resistance by rational treatment of malaria cases

Salient features of National Drug Policy for malaria are as under:

1. Treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum cases: Complete course of three days Artemisinin based Combination Therapy (ACT) along with single dose of primaquine 0.75 mg/kg body weight on day 2.
2. Treatment of uncomplicated P. vivaxcases:
   Chloroquine – 10 mg/kg body weight on day 1 and day 2 and 5 mg/kg body weight on day Primaquine- 0.25 mg/kg body weight for 14 days.
3. For severe malaria cases (both Pv and Pf) injectableartemisinin derivatives followed by full course of ACT.

15 sentinel sites have been identified for monitoring of therapeutic efficacy of anti- malarials in the country for all anti-malarials including ACT in collaboration with National Institute of Malaria Research. Three studies conducted in North Eastern States during 2012-13 and 2013-14 have shown late parasite clearance to ACT- Artesunate + Sulphadoxinepyrimethamine.

Accordingly, the ACT-Artemether + Lumefantrineis being used in seven North Eastern States in place of ACT-Artemether + Sulphadoxinepyremethamine. At remaining 12 centres, ACT (Artesunate+Sulphadoxinepyremethamine) in Pf cases as well as Chloroquine in Pvcases were found effective (cure rate nearly 100%).