Emergence and spread of artemisinin resistance calls for intensified efforts to withdraw oral artemisinin-based monotherapy from the market

Continued use of oral artemisinin-based monotherapy (oAMT) is widely considered to be one of the main contributing factors to the development and spread of resistance to artemisinin and its derivatives. In view of the latest evidence on artemisinin resistance, intensified action is required to protect the therapeutic life of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), which is the mainstay of treatment for malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum.

This update provides an overview of WHO’s recommended regulatory actions and country progress to date. It provides practical guidance to withdraw oAMTs from the market, based on experiences from successful countries.