Under the agreement, the drugs will now cost between FCFA235 and FCFA1000. Public health minister, Urbain Olanguena Awono noted that this measure can be applied because the Cameroonian government secured funding from the Global Fund against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
 
The money will be used to subsidize prices for Artemisin Combination Therapy (ACTs) such as Artemether + Lumefantrine up to 75% and Artesunate + Amodiaquine combination up 25%. This measure seeks to increase access of disadvantaged people to quality anti-malaria drugs, the minister said.
 
Thus, a Coartem box will cost FCF600 as against FCA3,900 previously charged. In addition to pharmacies, these prices will be applied in the private health units drugstores recognized by the government of Cameroon.
 
Malaria remains major killer disease and the first cause of morbidity and mortality among children under 5 years and pregnant women in Cameroon.
 
According to the ministry of public health, it represents between 45 and 50% of medical consultations, 23% of hospitalisations, 26% of sick leaves, 40% of deaths among under five-year old children, 30 to 35% of deaths, 35% of the mortality in hospitals and 40% of the households' annual health budget. 5 May 2007 - PANA

Click here for the Africa Health Platform