Evaluation of malaria chemoprophylaxis in Bahrain.

The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago located in the Arabian Gulf with a population of 650,000. A well-established network of 21 primary health care centers provide free health care for all residents, including citizens and expatriates. Patients requiring special investigation, consultation with specialists or admission are referred to the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC), which provides secondary and tertiary care. Malaria is a medical condition referred to SMC for medical care. Advice on appropriate prophylactic antimalarial regimens is a service provided by and limited to a public health advisory body, including the Public Health Directorate in the Ministry of Health, and a mini-clinic known as a vaccination clinic located at one of the 21 primary health centers spread across the country. This clinic is staffed by a trained nurse; it provides services such as vaccination and malaria chemoprophylaxis advice. The recommended prophylactic drugs have to be purchased by the travelers from private pharmacies; they are considered to be over-the-counter (OTC) medications.