Mbankomo, July 24, 2026 – For three intense days, policymakers, health experts, and economists gathered in Mbankomo didn’t debate hospital construction or drug procurement. Instead, they focused on numbers—percentages, tax rates, and fiscal simulations—yet beneath these technical discussions lay a single, urgent question: How can Cameroon leverage tobacco taxation to save more lives and secure sustainable health financing?
Organized with the support of the World Health Organization, the workshop brought together officials from the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Finance, Customs authorities, parliamentarians, civil society representatives, and technical partners. Their goal was to explore an often-overlooked strategy: using tobacco tax reforms as a dual engine for public health advancement and economic development.
Tobacco’s silent epidemic in Cameroon
The burden of tobacco-related illness remains one of the most preventable public health crises facing Cameroon today. While adult smoking prevalence stands at 9%, alarmingly, over 10% of adolescents aged 13 to 15 have already started smoking. Worse still, nearly 37% of the population is exposed to secondhand smoke. Each year, an estimated 66,000 deaths are directly attributed to tobacco use in the country.
Beyond mortality, tobacco consumption fuels a rise in cancers, cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and chronic respiratory conditions. It drains household budgets, stretches already strained health services, and places additional pressure on the national economy. Yet despite this heavy toll, cigarettes remain disturbingly affordable in Cameroon. In 2024, the retail price of the most popular cigarette pack was just $4.07 (PPP-adjusted), well below the African average of $5.06 and the global average of $6.98. Compounding this issue, tobacco taxes accounted for only 36% of the retail price—far below the 75% benchmark recommended by the WHO.
Taxation as a life-saving tool
At the opening session, national leaders emphasized that raising tobacco taxes is among the most effective interventions to curb consumption—especially among youth, who are highly price-sensitive. Even modest price increases can deter adolescents from initiating smoking, preventing decades of future disease, disability, and premature death.
But the benefits extend beyond health. A well-designed tobacco tax system doesn’t just reduce smoking—it also generates substantial revenue that can be reinvested into strengthening health systems, preventing non-communicable diseases, and advancing universal health coverage. The dual impact of such reforms makes them a rare win-win for both public health and national development.
Data-driven policy for real change
Effective tobacco taxation requires more than political will—it demands reliable evidence. During the workshop, participants analyzed consumption patterns, economic costs of tobacco, links to non-communicable diseases, the current tax structure, market dynamics, and international best practices.
Dr. William Maina, Senior Project Officer at WHO Africa, highlighted that tobacco remains a leading preventable cause of death globally. Its harms extend beyond cancer to heart disease, stroke, chronic lung disease, and developmental impacts on the brain, fertility, and cardiovascular health—especially among youth.
The discussions also addressed common misconceptions about tobacco tax hikes, such as fears of reduced public revenue, job losses, or a surge in illicit trade. Experts emphasized that international data shows these concerns are unfounded when reforms are implemented with robust monitoring and control measures. The guiding principle is clear: public policy must be evidence-based, not perception-driven.
Modeling the future: What higher taxes could achieve
A highlight of the workshop was the presentation of WHO’s TaXSiM model, which simulates the health and fiscal impacts of various tax reform scenarios. Using Cameroon-specific data, several progressive tax increase scenarios were tested.
The results were compelling. Under a phased reform:
- Raising the specific minimum tax from 5,000 FCFA to 10,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes in 2027;
- Then to 15,000 FCFA in 2028, applied uniformly to both imported and locally produced cigarettes;
The projected outcomes include:
- A drop in cigarette sales from 162.9 million packs in 2026 to 144.1 million in 2027, and 131.9 million in 2028—totaling a 19% reduction;
- A decline in smokers from 810,000 to 744,000 by 2028—preventing nearly 66,000 new smokers;
- An increase in excise revenue from 15.2 billion FCFA in 2027 to 38.3 billion FCFA in 2028, with total tax revenue rising from 32.6 billion to 57.3 billion FCFA—generating an additional 25 billion FCFA in public funds compared to baseline projections.
These findings dismantle the myth that health and economic goals are incompatible. A stronger tobacco tax policy can simultaneously reduce smoking and boost national revenue.
Securing health financing for the future
In an era of declining international health funding, tobacco taxation emerges as a strategic opportunity to strengthen domestic resource mobilization. The additional revenue could directly support:
- Universal Health Coverage initiatives;
- Prevention programs for non-communicable diseases;
- Smoking cessation services;
- Health infrastructure upgrades;
- Health promotion campaigns.
By aligning fiscal policy with public health goals, Cameroon can transform tobacco taxation into a sustainable engine for both saving lives and funding essential health services.
New threats emerge: Nicotine products targeting youth
The workshop also sounded the alarm on the rapid rise of novel nicotine products—disguised as pens, smartwatches, lipsticks, toys, candies, or chewing gum. These products, marketed through sophisticated tactics, are increasingly aimed at adolescents.
A video demonstration showing a teenager using a vape hidden in a smartwatch left a strong impression on attendees. WHO officials stressed that these products are not harmless. They create addiction, expose users to toxic substances, and risk normalizing nicotine use among young people.
Participants called for urgent regulatory and fiscal measures to prevent these products from gaining a foothold in Cameroon’s market, advocating for early intervention before they become entrenched.
Recommendations: A roadmap rooted in evidence
At the close of the three-day meeting, participants endorsed a comprehensive set of recommendations:
- Gradually raise the specific minimum tax to 15,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes by 2028;
- Apply the same tax rate to both imported and locally manufactured cigarettes;
- Strengthen regional dialogue within CEMAC on excise duties;
- Establish a national technical working group on tobacco taxation;
- Implement a permanent monitoring and evaluation system;
- Improve the availability and transparency of fiscal and commercial data;
- Accelerate the creation of a National Tobacco Control Fund;
- Develop a national traceability system for tobacco products.
They also stressed the need for intensified public awareness campaigns—especially targeting youth—support for tobacco farmers in transitioning to alternative crops, full implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, and the establishment of a national traceability system.
Dr. Colette Taka Joro, Permanent Secretary of the National Committee for Drug Control, underscored the need for high-level engagement with government, parliamentarians, and all stakeholders to accelerate reform adoption and ensure broad ownership.
A shared vision for Cameroon’s future
In closing the workshop, Dr. Hassan Ben Bachir, Director of Health Promotion at the Ministry of Public Health, framed the workshop’s legacy:
« Tobacco taxation is not just about revenue—it’s an investment in the health of our people. By protecting youth from initiating smoking and securing long-term financing for our health system, we are investing in the future of Cameroon. The recommendations from this workshop provide a solid roadmap to turn scientific evidence into actionable public policy for the benefit of all. »
The participants left Mbankomo united in a shared conviction: tobacco taxation is far more than a budgetary tool. It is a prevention mechanism, a shield for youth, a revenue generator, and a long-term investment in human capital. The data presented during the workshop proves that ambitious tobacco tax reform can reduce consumption, save lives, ease the burden of non-communicable diseases, and generate critical resources to fund national health priorities.
Every tax increase represents thousands of lives protected. Every evidence-based reform paints a picture of a Cameroon where fewer young people start smoking, families are shielded from tobacco’s devastating effects, and the health system is equipped to meet the needs of its people—today and tomorrow.
By positioning tobacco taxation as a strategic lever for public health and sustainable development, Cameroon has the chance to build a healthier, more resilient future for generations to come.
