Table 4.

Comparative analysis of Self Administered Therapy versus Directly Observed Therapy for PQ administration.

Features	PQ Self Administered Therapy	PQ Directly Observed Therapy
Administration	Patient takes the drug on his/her own	Drug intake monitored by healthcare worker
Periodicity of supervision	None	Daily or alternate days
Mechanism of supervision	Supervision is none but instructions given to patients	•Visit by healthcare workers to home or patients called to healthcare facility. •Digital tools via phone calls/SMS alerts or social media
Advantages	•No additional effort by HCW •No additional cost to the health system •Entire course of treatment given in one go especially advantageous for mobile population	•Ensured consumption of drug by the patient and minimize the risk of relapse. •Any adverse reaction of PQ can be reported by patient/enquired by HCW at regular basis and hence can be managed better •Enhances patient's confidence in health care system and improves access to timely healthcare •More opportunities for patients via multiple contacts to report further febrile episodes (possibly malaria).
Disadvantages	•No assurance of complete compliance •Adverse reactions may go undetected, unreported and hence unmanaged •Increased chances of relapses if adherence by patient is incomplete •Wastage of medicines if patient just collects and is unwilling to complete the treatment	•Additional cost and effort by healthcare system •Time consumed in supervision needs to be diverted from her schedule of other healthcare activities.
Cost	0.15–0.60 USD per course	Cost of medicine + additional human and logistical costs of supervision