China Daily: Country's malaria elimination achievements, innovations lauded

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_{‍This summary draws from an interview feature article on China Daily. The full article is available to here.}

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‍‍After decades of struggle against one of humanity’s deadliest diseases, China was officially certified as malaria-free in 2021. Annual cases fell from 30 million in the 1940s to zero in 2017, marking a significant public health milestone. China’s journey offers a compelling blueprint for how strong governance, tailored interventions, and strong support for scientific research can converge to defeat even the most formidable health threats.

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In an interview with China Daily, Dr. Sarthak Das, Chief Executive Officer of APLMA, noted that sustained national commitment to malaria elimination was central to China’s success. In China, malaria elimination was not treated as a health-sector issue alone. In 2010, thirteen ministerial departments — including health, science, finance, and public regulators — joined forces to coordinate resources and responses with one goal in mind: eliminating malaria. This whole-of-government approach ensured that malaria responses was embedded across broader government priorities. Equally critical was China’s robust malaria surveillance systems. Real-time reporting, hotspot identification, and rapid resource allocation created a highly responsive mechanism that allowed swift interventions to be deployed. The innovative "1-3-7" strategy exemplifies this approach - cases are reported within one day, confirmed and assessed within three, and responded to within seven. This structured methodology ensured accountability, speed and reach, even in remote areas such as the Yunnan province. China also demonstrated the importance of tailored interventions, whether targeting high-risk populations, border regions, or areas with unique ecological challenges. Strong support for scientific research and innovation was another cornerstone of success, most notably the discovery of artemisinin in the 1970s - the core compound of artemisinin-based combination therapies that remain the most effective first-line treatment to this day. China was also among the first countries globally to extensively test the use of insecticide-treated nets as a preventive tool.

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Dr. Das highlights that as malaria resurges in many parts of the world, there is an urgent need to step up existing efforts. China’s experience offers a clear example of how sustained political will, underpinned by strong governance, can translate ambition into tangible progress towards malaria elimination. While effective tools are already available, progress will now depend on how effectively these tools are adapted to local realities, alongside capacity building at all levels.

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