New drug for malaria makes the WHO list

Three medicines developed for “neglected” diseases have been recognised by the World Health Organisation as essential drugs. The New York Times reported that the three new drug were to cure malaria, Chagas disease and sleeping sickness. All three are insect-borne and lethal diseases. The drugs were developed by Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, which was founded by Doctors Without Borders and their partners in 2003. Entering the WHO list is an important accomplishment for the programme. The list has been used by health ministries, donors and UN agencies to decide which drugs to use and which ones to pay for since it was first issued in 1977.