Health policy : parenteral artesunate access programme aims at reducing malaria fatality rates in South Africa : forum

Parenteral artesunate should be used in preference to quinine for the treatment of severe malaria, given its significant mortality and safety benefits. As the product has not yet been registered for use in South Africa, the Parenteral Artesunate Access Programme has been launched to reduce malaria-related mortality. Severe malaria is a medical emergency that requires prompt treatment to prevent death, which occurs in 10 - 50% of patients. Based on high-quality evidence, the World Health Organization (WHO) now strongly recommends intravenous (IV) artesunate in preference to IV quinine for the treatment of severe malaria in adults.