Quality of antimalarials at the epicenter of antimalarial drug resistance: Results from an overt and mystery client survey in Cambodia
Journal
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - Supplement on the Pandemic of Falsified Medicines
Category: Publications
Author: Shunmay Yeung, Harriet L. S. Lawford, Patricia Tabernero, Chea Nguon, Albert van Wyk, Naiela Malik, Mikhael DeSousa, Ouk Rada, Mam Boravann, Prabha Dwivedi, Dana M. Hostetler, Isabel Swamidoss, Michael D. Green, Facundo M. Fernandez, Harparkash Kaur
Published Date: 20 April 2015
Summary
Widespread availability of monotherapies and falsified antimalarials is thought to have contributed to the historical development of multidrug-resistant malaria in Cambodia. This study aimed to document the quality of artemisinin-containing antimalarials (ACAs) and to compare two methods of collecting antimalarials from drug outlets: through open surveyors and mystery clients (MCs). Few oral artemisinin-based monotherapies and no suspected falsified medicines were found. All 291 samples contained the stated active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) of which 69% were considered good quality by chemical analysis. Overall, medicine quality did not differ by collection method, although open surveyors were less likely to obtain oral artemisinin-based monotherapies than MCs. The results are an encouraging indication of the positive impact of the country’s efforts to tackle falsified antimalarials and artemisinin-based monotherapies. However, poor-quality medicines remain an ongoing challenge that demands sustained political will and investment of human and financial resources.
