In view of heavy burden of malaria and prevalence of drug resistant falciparum malaria in the South-East Asia Region these two parallel guidelines one for small hospitals and another one for large hospitals were developed for use by medical personnel who treat severe malaria patients referred from lower-level health facilities. These guidelines were developed by the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia and the WHO Collaborating Centre for the Clinical Management of Malaria Faculty of Tropical Medicine Mahidol University Thailand. They are based on a review of current evidence existing WHO guidelines and experience in the management of malaria in the Region.