How tobacco tax reforms can transform Cameroon’s public health

Mbankomo, July 24, 2026 — For three consecutive days, policymakers, health officials, and economic experts gathered in Mbankomo not to discuss hospital construction or medicine procurement, but to delve into a single, life-saving strategy: tobacco taxation. Behind spreadsheets, percentage calculations, and fiscal simulations lay a shared objective—how to curb preventable deaths and secure long-term funding for Cameroon’s healthcare system.

From July 22 to 24, 2026, a multi-stakeholder workshop convened with support from the World Health Organization brought together officials from the ministries of Public Health and Finance, customs authorities, parliamentarians, civil society representatives, and technical partners. Their focus? Unlocking the largely untapped potential of tobacco taxation as both a public health intervention and a catalyst for economic development.

Tobacco remains a silent killer in Cameroon

Despite global progress in tobacco control, Cameroon continues to bear the burden of tobacco-related disease. Smoking prevalence stands at 9% among adults and exceeds 10% among adolescents aged 13 to 15. Worse still, 37% of the population is exposed to secondhand smoke. The human cost is stark: nearly 66,000 deaths annually are linked to tobacco use in the country.

The health consequences extend far beyond mortality. Tobacco use drives up rates of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and chronic respiratory illnesses. It also places immense pressure on households, healthcare systems, and the national economy. Alarmingly, despite this devastating impact, cigarettes remain highly affordable in Cameroon. In 2024, the average retail price of the most popular cigarette pack was just $4.07 (PPP-adjusted)—far below the African average of $5.06 and the global average of $6.98. Moreover, tobacco taxes accounted for only 36% of the retail price, well short of the WHO’s recommended 75% threshold.

Taxation as a tool for prevention and revenue

At the opening of the workshop, national leaders emphasized a critical insight: raising taxes on tobacco is one of the most effective strategies to reduce consumption. Price sensitivity is particularly pronounced among young people. When cigarettes become less affordable, many adolescents choose not to start smoking—a decision that can protect their health for decades to come.

The public health benefits are clear: fewer smokers mean fewer cases of preventable disease, disability, and premature death. But the advantages do not end there. A well-designed tax policy can generate significant additional revenue that can be reinvested into health systems, non-communicable disease prevention, and efforts toward universal health coverage.

Data-driven reforms: building policies on evidence

Effective policymaking requires reliable data. During the workshop, participants analyzed tobacco consumption patterns in Cameroon, the economic toll of tobacco use, its role in driving non-communicable diseases, the current tax structure, market dynamics, and international best practices.

Dr. William Maina, Senior Project Officer at WHO Africa, underscored that tobacco remains one of the world’s leading preventable causes of death. Beyond cancers, it fuels cardiovascular disease, stroke, and chronic respiratory conditions. Nicotine, the addictive compound in tobacco, harms brain development, fertility, and cardiovascular health—especially in youth.

The discussions dismantled common myths surrounding tobacco tax increases—such as fears of declining public revenue, massive job losses, or unchecked illicit trade. Experts confirmed that, when implemented with appropriate control measures, tax reforms do not lead to these outcomes. Public policy, they argued, must be guided by evidence, not perception.

Tax simulation reveals transformative potential

A highlight of the workshop was the presentation of WHO TaXSiM, a modeling tool designed to help governments assess the health and fiscal impacts of proposed tax reforms before implementation.

Participants ran multiple simulations using Cameroon’s data. The results were unequivocal. Two progressive tax increases were modeled:

• Raising the minimum specific tax from 5,000 FCFA to 10,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes in 2027;

Then, a further increase to 15,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes in 2028—applied uniformly to both imported and locally produced cigarettes.

The projected outcomes are striking. Cigarette sales are expected to drop from 162.9 million packs in 2026 to 144.1 million in 2027 and 131.9 million in 2028—a cumulative reduction of about 19%. Over the same period, the number of smokers would fall from 810,000 to 744,000, preventing nearly 66,000 people from starting or continuing to smoke by 2028.

Meanwhile, excise revenues would climb from 15.2 billion FCFA in 2027 to 28.8 billion FCFA, reaching 38.3 billion FCFA in 2028. Total tax revenues would rise from 32.6 billion FCFA to 57.3 billion FCFA—generating nearly 25 billion FCFA in additional funds compared to baseline projections.

Experts stressed that these findings debunk the myth that health and economic goals are in conflict. A stronger tobacco tax policy can achieve both: fewer smokers and more resources for health.

Financing the future: a strategic path for health financing

With international health funding on the decline, domestic resource mobilization has never been more vital. Workshop participants identified several areas where additional tobacco tax revenue could make a difference:

• Expanding universal health coverage;
• Strengthening non-communicable disease prevention programs;
• Funding tobacco cessation services;
• Upgrading health infrastructure;
• Supporting health promotion initiatives.

In the view of attendees, tobacco taxation stands as one of the few policies capable of simultaneously improving population health, reducing future disease-related costs, and strengthening the financial sustainability of the health system.

Emerging threat: nicotine products targeting youth

Participants also raised concerns over the rapid rise of new nicotine products—vapes, nicotine pouches, and even disguised devices like stylus pens, smartwatches, and lipsticks. These products, often marketed with sophisticated tactics, disproportionately appeal to adolescents.

A video demonstration showing a teenager using a vape concealed in a smartwatch left a strong impression. WHO officials warned: these products are not harmless. They create addiction, expose users to toxic substances, and risk normalizing nicotine use among young people.

The group recommended proactive regulation and taxation of these products before they become entrenched in the Cameroonian market.

Eight key recommendations for action

At the close of the workshop, participants adopted a comprehensive set of recommendations:

• Gradually increase the minimum specific tax to 15,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes by 2028;
• Apply the tax uniformly to all tobacco products, whether imported or locally produced;
• Strengthen regional coordination on excise duties within CEMAC;
• Establish a national technical working group on tobacco taxation;
• Develop a permanent monitoring and evaluation system;
• Improve the availability and transparency of fiscal and trade data;
• Accelerate the creation of a national tobacco control fund;
• Implement a national traceability system for tobacco products.

Recognizing that effective tobacco control requires collective action, they also called 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, emphasized the need for high-level dialogue with government, parliamentarians, and all stakeholders to fast-track reform adoption and ensure ownership.

A shared vision for Cameroon’s future

In closing, Dr. Hassan Ben Bachir, Director of Health Promotion at the Ministry of Public Health, reflected on the workshop’s legacy:

“Tobacco taxation is far more than a revenue tool. It is an investment in the health of our people. By protecting young people from starting to smoke and securing sustainable funding 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 public policy that benefits everyone.”

Participants left Mbankomo with a shared conviction: tobacco taxation is not just a budgetary matter—it is a prevention instrument, a shield for youth, a driver of domestic revenue, and a long-term investment in the nation’s human capital.

The data presented during the workshop prove that bold tobacco tax reforms can simultaneously reduce smoking, save lives, ease the burden of non-communicable diseases, and generate substantial funds to finance national health priorities.

Every tax increase represents thousands of lives protected. Every evidence-based reform charts a path toward a Cameroon where fewer young people start smoking, families are shielded from tobacco’s harm, and the health system is equipped to meet the needs of its people—today and for generations to come.