Ladner J, et al. - Researchers aimed at investigating patient treatment-seeking behaviour for malaria in pharmacies in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda. Findings revealed differences in drug prescription and purchase patterns in five sub-Saharan African countries. The private sector seemed playing an increasingly important role in fever case management in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding the characteristics of private retail outlets and the role they play in providing anti-malaria drugs could support the design of effective malaria interventions.