Decisions on the choice of anti-malarial medicines are made by countries themselves. The Department for International Development's (DFID) support for country health programmes or for malaria specifically is used to purchase the anti-malarial drugs selected by the country. Country decisions are influenced strongly by World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations.
DFID works with international partners on such issues and particularly relies on WHO to set policy on treatment standards. The WHO is in the final stages of updating its policy and guidelines on fixed dose combination and co-blistered anti-malarials.
In addition DFID supports the Affordable Medicines Facility for Malaria which was launched on 17 April 2009. In that context there has been discussion on the desirability of supporting fixed dose combinations and ways to encourage a transition to fixed dose combinations, where relevant, in a manner that ensures the products and requisite training are available.
DFID continues to support research and development on new anti-malarials through the Medicines for Malaria Venture. One output of this is the new fixed dose combination dispersible formulation for children that was launched by Novartis in February 2009.