The new anti-malarial drug, coartem, follows a treatment protocol based on factors such as a patient's body weight.

The treatment protocol also means that amount and the length of medication will take longer than the normal three-day once a day chloroquinne treatment.

Speaking at the launch of the new anti-malaria treatment in Honiara Saturday, Dr. Dalipanda of the drug's Technical Working Group said deciding on a new anti-malarial treatment was difficult when put against chloroquinne.

Dr. Dalipanda says chloroquinne is an easy choice for malaria in terms of dosage - once a day for three days and most patients respond positively to treatment.

He says the issue now is to decide on a drug that is new but easier on patients to take as dosage however compliance in Solomon Islands may be an issue.

Dr. Dalipanda says it is important to explore the many medications available to combat malaria according to studies done in Asian and African countries.

He says medical evidence points towards lamofantri and arte-meter tablets as anti-malarial medication, however long dosage requirements may meet opposition from not only patients but medical staff as well.

He says what needs to be done is to train medical staff on compliancy and the timing of the doses of these new anti-malarial treatments.

Meanwhile, Dr. Alipanda says training on how to use the new anti-malarial drug, coartem has been conducted for provincial medical staff but there is still room for improvements in the treatment regime.

Source: SIBC