by Tougher S, Mann AG, ACTwatch Group, Ye Y, Kourgueni IA, Thomson R, Amuasi JH, Ren R, Willey BA, Ansong D, Bruxvoort K, Diap G, Festo C, Johanes B, Kalolella A, Mallam O, Mberu B, Ndiaye S, Nguah SB, Seydou M, Taylor M, Wamukoya M, Arnold F, Hanson K, Goodman C. Health Affairs 2014, doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.0104, vol. 33 no. 9 1576-1585.
Summary: Improving access to quality-assured artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) is an important component of malaria control in low- and middle-income countries. In 2010 the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria launched the Affordable Medicines Facility—malaria (AMFm) program in seven African countries. The goal of the program was to decrease malaria morbidity and delay drug resistance by increasing the use of ACTs, primarily through subsidies intended to reduce costs. The authors demonstrate that supranational subsidies can dramatically reduce retail prices of health commodities and that recommended retail prices communicated to a wide audience may be an effective mechanism for controlling the market power of private-sector antimalarial retailers and wholesalers.
