Previous reluctance to use ACTs in presumed chloroquine-sensitive P.vivax areas were centered on concerns over efficacy and cost. The advent of generically produced ACTs is improving cost-related issues, while a recent Cochrane review of clinical trials looking at the use of ACT versus chloroquine for uncomplicated vivax malaria showed that ACTs are equivalent to chloroquine in preventing recurrent parasitaemia in the first 28 days (RR 1, 95% CI 0.30 to 3.39), and those with long half lives such as mefloquine or piperaquine are superior over a 6-8 week follow up, with fewer recurrent episodes after day 28 (RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.76). This post treatment prophylaxis benefit of longer acting agents extends to the reduction in gametocyte carriage, delay in relapse or re-infection and decreased risk of anaemia development, all of which contribute to decreased transmissibility and health care cost.