Doxycycline has been officially recognised as an important tool for malaria chemoprevention in South Africa, with recent regulatory updates making it more accessible to the public.
According to the latest consolidated schedule from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), doxycycline is now classified as a Schedule 2 medicine when intended and labelled specifically for the prevention of malaria in individuals aged 8 years and older. This means the medication can be dispensed without a prescription for travellers heading to malaria-endemic areas, increasing ease of access and convenience.
Doxycycline is one of the antimalarial agents recommended in the National Guidelines for the Prevention of Malaria. Read the guidelines here.
To further support South Africa’s malaria elimination efforts, doxycycline was added to both the Primary Healthcare Level and Paediatric Hospital Level Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs) and the Essential Medicines List (EML) in January 2024. These additions aim to expand access to effective malaria prevention, particularly for vulnerable populations.
For more information on malaria in South Africa, click here.
