Defence understands the importance of ensuring transparency and timeliness in the reporting of research results and recognises the results of this study have been significantly delayed.

The study entitled: Impact of anti-malarial chemoprophylaxis on functional effectiveness of military personnel (713/MODREC/15) was initiated in 2015 by a now-retired Defence Public Health Consultant. Retirement of the lead investigator without appointment of a replacement meant that the data remained unanalysed. Regrettably the delay was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was not until 2023 that resources were applied to revisiting the dataset.

A team of public health specialists supported by Defence Statistics undertook a re-analysis of the original dataset. The reanalysis determined that the study had not generated evidence of sufficient certainty to warrant recommendations to change policy or clinical practice around the choice of antimalarial. The relative lack of substantive findings from the reanalysis meant that while the work was reported internally as part of a general review of malaria policy to ensure compliance with earlier House of Commons Defence Committee (HCDC) Direction, peer reviewed publication was not prioritised; however, the findings prompted a further service evaluation which will look to examine malaria in the service population.

This further evaluation is ongoing and based on malaria notifications between January 2016 and January 2026. This work builds on 713/MODREC/15 and aims to provide a more contemporaneous picture of the impact of malaria on UK armed forces and the role of force health protection measures, including malaria chemoprophylaxis.

The intent is to publish both the results of 713/MODREC/15 and this service evaluation in a peer reviewed journal. The department will aim to submit the results of 713/MODREC/15 for publication within the calendar year.

Defence understands the importance of ensuring transparency and timeliness in the reporting of research results and recognises the results of this study have been significantly delayed.

The study entitled: Impact of anti-malarial chemoprophylaxis on functional effectiveness of military personnel (713/MODREC/15) was initiated in 2015 by a now-retired Defence Public Health Consultant. Retirement of the lead investigator without appointment of a replacement meant that the data remained unanalysed. Regrettably the delay was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was not until 2023 that resources were applied to revisiting the dataset.

A team of public health specialists supported by Defence Statistics undertook a re-analysis of the original dataset. The reanalysis determined that the study had not generated evidence of sufficient certainty to warrant recommendations to change policy or clinical practice around the choice of antimalarial. The relative lack of substantive findings from the reanalysis meant that while the work was reported internally as part of a general review of malaria policy to ensure compliance with earlier House of Commons Defence Committee (HCDC) Direction, peer reviewed publication was not prioritised; however, the findings prompted a further service evaluation which will look to examine malaria in the service population.

This further evaluation is ongoing and based on malaria notifications between January 2016 and January 2026. This work builds on 713/MODREC/15 and aims to provide a more contemporaneous picture of the impact of malaria on UK armed forces and the role of force health protection measures, including malaria chemoprophylaxis.

The intent is to publish both the results of 713/MODREC/15 and this service evaluation in a peer reviewed journal. The department will aim to submit the results of 713/MODREC/15 for publication within the calendar year.

The study entitled; Impact of anti-malarial chemoprophylaxis on functional effectiveness of military personnel (713/MODREC/15) was initiated in 2015 by a now-retired Defence Public Health Consultant. The work sought to collect data around the impact of anti-malarial chemoprophylaxis on the functional effectiveness of military personnel. Data was collected from two British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) battlegroups between 2017-18 in the form of questionnaires and was stored for subsequent analysis.

Retirement of the lead investigator without appointment of a replacement meant that the data remained unanalysed. A team of public health specialists supported by Defence Statistics undertook a re-analysis of the original dataset and determined that the study had not generated evidence of sufficient certainty to warrant recommendations to change policy or clinical practice around the choice of antimalarial. The relative lack of substantive findings from the reanalysis meant that while the work was reported internally as part of a general review of malaria policy to ensure compliance with earlier HCDC Direction, peer reviewed publication was not prioritised.

A separate service evaluation of Defence Primary Healthcare electronic patient records is currently being undertaken based on malaria notifications between January 2016 and January 2026. The work builds on 713/MODREC/15 and aims to provide a more contemporaneous picture of the impact of malaria on UK Armed Forces and the role of force health protection measures, including malaria chemoprophylaxis. Subject to further work, the department will aim to submit the results of 713/MODREC/15 for publication in a peer reviewed journal in 2027. Further, the intent is to publish the service evaluation in a peer reviewed journal as a follow up to publication of the results from 713/MODREC/15.

Supporting vaccination and immunisation, preventing and treating disease, and preparing for pandemics and epidemics, are all crucial elements of the UK's global health programmes, working alongside organisations like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; the World Health Organisation; the Global Fund; UNAIDS; the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention; and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

Our work in those different areas cannot adequately be summarised in the answer to one parliamentary question, but the Hon Member can find regular updates about that work by following the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office news feed on GOV.UK, and by continuing to attend our statements, oral questions sessions and urgent question responses in the House.

The Department continues to monitor and publish bi-annual statistics on the number of prescriptions for mefloquine (also known as Larium) given to UK armed forces personnel at Ministry of Defence medical facilities since 12 September 2016. The full release of information can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mefloquine-lariam-prescribing-in-the-uk-armed-forces-statistics-index

The number of all antimalarials prescribed to armed forces personnel during the period Sept 2016 to 30 March 2023 is available at Table 1 at the following link:

https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F646cb6b8382a5100139fc5c9%2FMefloquine_Prescribing_in_the_UK_Armed_Forces_Supplementary_tables.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK

There were 29,830 antimalarials, not including mefloquine, prescribed between 1 April 2023 – 30 September 2025. Table 1, below, provides this information by 6-month period and year. Antimalarials include prescriptions for doxycycline. Doxycycline may have been prescribed for antibiotic or antimalarial purposes.

Table 1: Other antimalarial prescriptions¹ by annual and six-month period, numbers

1 April 2023 to 30 September 2025

¹ Does not include mefloquine prescriptions.

² Includes prescriptions between 1 April 2025 and 30 September 2025 only.

The Defence Committee Report (HC567) made a series of recommendations on the Ministry of Defence (MOD) use of mefloquine (trade name Lariam), individual risk assessments, research undertaken research on mefloquine, and comparisons with the use of mefloquine by allies.

In response to the report, MOD introduced a new policy on prescribing antimalarial drugs on 12 September 2016. Anti-malaria drugs, including mefloquine, are only prescribed after a face-to-face individual risk assessment. The recommended anti-malaria drug is determined by the sensitivity of malaria parasites to those drugs in different parts of the world based on UKHSA guidance. Mefloquine is only prescribed by a doctor and after all other alternatives have been identified as unsuitable.

In all cases, the authority and supply details for anti-malarial drugs are recorded on the individual’s medical note. Personnel supplied with anti-malarial drugs are issued copies of all manufacturer-provided patient documentation relevant to that drug and are informed of all special warnings or precautions relevant to anti-malarial drugs.

The Department continues to monitor and publish bi-annual statistics on the number of mefloquine prescriptions given to UK Armed Forces personnel at MOD medical facilities.

The latest release of information can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mefloquine-lariam-prescribing-in-the-uk-armed-forces-statistics-index

The next release is due to be published on 28 May 2026 and will include data from 12 September 2016 to 31 March 2026.

The MOD continues to monitor the use of mefloquine and other anti-malarial drugs by allies. This includes the extent to and circumstances in which mefloquine is prescribed.

The Department previously outlined its intention to conduct a research proposal into the impact of adverse effects of anti-malaria drugs focusing on the performance of military personnel exercising in Kenya. The study, ‘Impact of anti-malarial chemoprophylaxis on functional effectiveness of military personnel’ (713/MODREC/15) was initiated and data on the impact of anti-malarial chemoprophylaxis on the functional effectiveness of military personnel collected from two British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) battlegroups between 2017-18. Following a delay in the analysis of the data, the department intend to undertake further work to be able publish the findings in a peer reviewed journal in 2027.

There has been a total of 1,812 cases of malaria reported in the United Kingdom in the twelve months between January and December 2024. The UK Health Security Agency publishes annual malaria statistics in an annual report, titled Malaria in the UK. The statistics for the twelve months between January and December 2025 will be published in 2026.

The Global Fund's partnerships with British research institutions have supported innovations such as long-lasting insecticidal nets, improved HIV prevention, antiretroviral therapies, and strengthened community-led responses. Such partnerships drive scientific advancement, support skilled employment, and reinforce the UK's leadership in global health, delivering benefits to both global health and the UK economy.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer she received on 3 November in response to Question 84226.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer she received on 3 November in response to Question 84226.