Singapore, Aug. 23 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) says accelerated research and development (R&D) in new tools for malaria prevention and treatment is key if the world is to eradicate malaria in the foreseeable future: today less than 1% of funding for health R&D investment goes to developing tools to tackle malaria.

WHO also flags the urgent need for progress to advance universal health coverage and improve access to services, and better surveillance to guide a more targeted malaria response.

The findings have emerged in a report from WHO's Strategic Advisory Group on Malaria Eradication (SAGme).

"To achieve a malaria-free world we must reinvigorate the drive to find the transformative strategies and tools that can be tailored...