Appendix 1a. Terms of reference 2026
Updated 17 June 2026
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Background
The Advisory Committee on Malaria Prevention (ACMP, now UKMEAG) was established in 1998 to formulate guidelines on malaria prevention in the UK. The guidelines are used by medical professionals and other travel medicine advisors based in the UK and many other countries. The guidelines are also the basis for recommendations from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC). Today, the UKMEAG is overseen by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Purpose
To provide guidelines for health professionals on the prevention of malaria for travellers from the UK, updated annually or soon as there is a significant change in the distribution or behaviour of malaria, or the need to consider new advice on drugs and anti-insect measures. The UKMEAG will do this in light of data from the UKHSA Malaria Reference Laboratory, London (MRL), the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), World Health Organization Global Malaria Programme and other sources by:
- assessing new information on methods of malaria prevention for travellers, in relation to both efficacy and any unwanted effects
- reviewing patterns of malaria and of resistance to anti-malarial agents and anti-vector measures as determinants of malaria risk to travellers
- formulating practical advice on protection against malaria for UK travellers and making this available to those who advise travellers
- formulating advice on the treatment of malaria cases imported to the UK
Membership
Membership is open to medical and non-medical professionals who have expertise in:
- antimalarial drug resistance
- the use of antimalarial drugs
- malaria prevention and/or treatment methods
- the behaviour of UK travellers
The UKMEAG will be chaired by a leading international expert in malaria and tropical medicine or malaria and infectious diseases.
There are no strict restrictions on the number of members able to join the committee; however, the number should be beneficial and not detrimental to the UKMEAG purpose. Membership will be reviewed every 3 years, after which membership may be renewed. Members of sub-groups associated with the UKMEAG may not always be direct members of the UKMEAG.
Accountability
Individual UKMEAG members and associated sub-groups are responsible for reporting back on activities tasked to them, either directly to the committee or via the secretariat when necessary.
Review process
The terms of reference (ToR) will be reviewed annually by the UKMEAG committee and proposed changes will be mutually agreed prior to being finalised by the Chair. The relevance and value of any subgroups will be reviewed on a regular basis.
Working methods
Sub-groups will be convened as necessary to take forward different aspects of the work of the UKMEAG. Essential meeting papers will be circulated electronically to all members no later than 5 days prior to the next meeting whenever possible.
Meeting arrangements
Prevention Guidelines meeting will be held twice a year, face to face.
The Country Recommendations meeting and the Treatment Guidelines meeting will be held once a year, face to face.
Meetings will be chaired by the UKMEAG Chair. If the Chair is not available, the Deputy Chair will take this role.
Non-UKMEAG members may be invited to meetings to contribute specialist skills, experience and knowledge when necessary.
An UKHSA scientific secretariat will coordinate and provide scientific secretariat support to the UKMEAG.
Confidentiality or conflicts of interest
Members of the UKMEAG may have access to, see or hear information of a confidential nature with respect to the business of the UKMEAG and must not disclose such data to a third party unless expressly authorised to do so by the Chair. It is the individual responsibility of UKMEAG members to declare conflicts of interest annually, or when their conflicts of interest status changes, to the UKHSA scientific secretariat who will inform the committee.
Funding
The UKMEAG is supported by UKHSA.
Equality and diversity
The UKMEAG will treat all members equally with respect to the business of the committee and will encourage member diversity.