Objective: Analysis of Antimalarial Drug Policy in India. Subject/Method: Policy Analysis and Secondary Research Review.
Findings: Drug list expanded extensively and the drug dose intensity is proportional to disease transmission in
region/area; medicalizing the community significantly. The conceptual understanding of malaria remains within biomedicine
domain evidenced by the fact that much of importance (over-reliance) given to least effective individual level
technical interventions like drugs that too; without considering immunity and nutritional status of both individual and
community. Indian planners seems confused to differentiate (or ignoring) between Malaria’s behavior at individual level
and community level. Thus, the Malaria planning lacks ethical consideration for resource allocation in Public Health
Planning evidenced by the fact that large resources allocated to least effective intervention that serves the profit making
purpose of private sector pharma industry. Sufferings of the most impoverished household of community remain unaddressed
in health planning. Policy is unable to serve its primary purpose of relieving suffering of community, prevention
of mortalities, reducing morbidities, slowing down the resistance, and reducing drug load in community. Conclusion:
The investment in medications to tackle malaria as Public Health problem looks costly investments as it consumes heavy
resources and its benefits/success claim is questionable. There is mismatch in planning and field reality as intervention in
the form of drugs does not match the requirement as per epidemiological complexity. Health planning is comprehensive
exercise for any country. Ignoring voices from field/frontline workers prove detrimental for health planning. Every organization
or individual involved in health planning would be having different opinions as per their interest but the final
decision regarding resource allocation should consider the field reality following good public health ethics
