In their Correspondence piece, the authors reflect on how to sustain the efficacy of the Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) for treating malaria. Following more than a decade of its use, partial artemisinin resistance is growing, resulting in slower parasite clearance and endangering the efficacy of ACT treatment.

The authors urge stakeholders to take action on this issue well before the cure rate falls under the WHO-recommended threshold of 90%. They call for a shift of partner drug in Uganda, Rwanda, and neighbouring countries, pointing to a need for a regional approach in addressing this situation.

The researchers emphasize that the recently observed rapid spread of artemisinin resistance is not just a concern but a major threat to malaria control and management, putting the health of millions at risk. They mention MARC SE-Africa as an example of a regional initiative developing optimal treatment strategies to mitigate antimalarial resistance and stress the need for a broader international recognition of the problem.