Ghana: New malaria drugs and expansion of ARV treatment push up government drugs bill

The Ghanaian government has issued tough new guidelines for medical practitioners as it prepares for a big hike in health spending. It has ordered a switch to more expensive, but more effective drugs for treating malaria and a big increase in antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for people living with AIDS. The 517-page guidelines, along with a new list of essential medicines, aim to deliver efficient treatment at least cost as the government prepares to boost its expenditure on drugs from the estimated 2004 level of US $6million.