WHO’s Prequalification Unit announced on 27 October 2026 that paediatric primaquine products made by Macleods had joined its list. The announcement describes their use in preventing relapse of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale malaria. This concerns the listing of specific products, rather than discovery of a new medicine or confirmation that it is available in every country. WHO

Context and what it means

WHO explains that prequalification supports international procurement by evaluating quality, safety and efficacy, using assessments, testing and inspections as appropriate. It does not replace patient-specific medical decisions or national regulatory authorities. This report consequently supplies no dosing instructions or invitation to self-medicate; a qualified clinician should assess malaria treatment for an individual child. WHO