In collaboration with national malaria programmes and partners, WHO-led the development of the Strategy for malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong Subregion (2015–2030). Urging immediate action, the strategy calls for the elimination of all species of human malaria across the GMS by 2030, with priority action targeted to areas where multidrug-resistant malaria parasites have been identified

With technical guidance from WHO, all GMS countries have developed national malaria elimination plans. As countries implement these plans, WHO is providing ongoing technical support through its 6 GMS country offices, regional offices in New Delhi and Manila, and the Organization’s Geneva headquarters. Antimalarial drug efficacy is assessed through therapeutic efficacy studies (TES). Such studies at regular intervals at the same sites allow for the early detection of declines in drug efficacy, providing evidence for guiding national malaria treatment policies. To improve the response to multidrug resistance in the GMS, countries, with the support of WHO and partners, continually collect and analyze quality data at sentinel sites across the subregion.

In 2017, WHO launched the Mekong Malaria Elimination (MME) programme. The MME subregional team in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, supports the GMS malaria elimination strategy by facilitating coordination and dialogue among partners, communicating with external stakeholders, and coordinating cross-border initiatives. Urgent action now will deliver significant savings in the long run, improving the sustainability and public health impact of malaria interventions around the world.