Table 1.

Summary of actors’ roles and their contributions to the MTP development

Actors/Organisations	Main responsibility	Contribution to MTP development
Ministry of Health	Develop malaria policies, coordinate and implement the malaria control program	Draft the protocol, lead process and finalisation of the protocol.
World Health Organization country office in Timor-Leste	Provide technical assistance needed by the MoH including policy development	Draft the protocol, search for evidence from the literature and seek advice from malaria experts in other countries. Assist the MoH in protocol formulation, completion and official approval.
Non-government organizations (HNI, CARE International, CRS, HAI)	Implement malaria control program particularly in health promotion and prevention activities	Some clinicians working with the NGOs provide technical expertise in relation to drug dosages and the application of the protocol in the IMCI program.
Bilateral – USAID through its agency TAIS	Implementing Child Survival Programs – mainly involved in ITN distribution	Contribute inputs to the finalisation of the draft protocol.
		USAID offered to conduct SP efficacy study, but this was not taken forward.
Cuban Medical Brigade	Provide curative service but also health promotion and prevention activities.	Contribute to the finalisation of the draft protocol and Spanish translation.
Medical Association	Provide curative service, health promotion and prevention activities.	Contribute to the finalisation of the draft protocol, translation and socialisation.
Private Clinics	Curative service	One private clinic had used Artemisinin-based combination therapy prior to the official adoption by the MoH.
National Commission for Protocol Finalisation	The NCPF members drawn from the various organisations	Finalise the draft protocol, approve the MTP text, translate the MTP into Tetum and Spanish, and conduct socialisation.
The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria	Provide funding for the Malaria Control Program	The Global Fund created the MWG. The MWG was instrumental to the proposed idea of changing MTP for P. falciparum from SP to AL. Assist with the literature review to find evidence for changing the protocol and assist with drafting the protocol.
External expert	WHO SEARO had expertise in guideline development and RBM strategies	Provide advice on the protocol and development of the treatment guidelines including the formulation of drug dosages.
WHO-Regional Office and Mahidol University	Mahidol University provided pharmacological expertise

AL: Artemether-Lumefantrine; CRS: Catholic Relief Services; HAI: Health Alliance International; HNI: HealthNet International; MTP: Malaria Treatment Protocol; MWG: Malaria Working Group; NCPF: National Commission for Protocol Finalisation; RBM: Roll Back Malaria; SP: Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine; TAIS: Timor-Leste Assistência Integrado Saúde; USAID: United States Agency for International Development; WHO SEARO: World Health Organization South East Asia Regional Office.