Transforming tobacco taxation into a health and economic asset in Cameroon

Mbankomo, July 2026 – For three days, policymakers, health experts, and economists convened in Mbankomo not to discuss hospital construction or drug procurement, but to scrutinize tax structures. Behind the spreadsheets and fiscal simulations lay a pivotal question: how can Cameroon leverage tobacco taxation to save lives and secure sustainable health financing?

The gathering, supported by global health authorities, brought together officials from the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Finance, Customs, parliamentarians, civil society representatives, and technical partners. Their focus? The often-overlooked power of tobacco taxes as a tool for both public health and economic development.

The hidden cost of tobacco in Cameroon

Tobacco remains one of the leading preventable causes of death worldwide, and Cameroon is no exception. An estimated 9% of adults and over 10% of youth aged 13 to 15 smoke, while 37% of the population is exposed to secondhand smoke. The human toll is staggering: roughly 66,000 deaths annually are linked to tobacco use in the country.

Beyond mortality, tobacco fuels a surge in cancers, cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and chronic respiratory conditions. It strains household finances, overburdens healthcare systems, and drains national productivity. Yet, cigarettes remain disturbingly affordable. In 2024, the most popular cigarette pack cost just $4.07 (PPP-adjusted), well below Africa’s average of $5.06 and the global mean of $6.98. Tobacco taxes accounted for only 36% of the retail price—far below the WHO’s recommended 75%.

Why tax hikes work: evidence from global and local data

During the workshop, national leaders emphasized that raising tobacco taxes is among the most effective strategies to curb consumption. Price sensitivity is particularly high among young people; when cigarettes become less affordable, fewer adolescents start smoking. The long-term health benefits of such a policy extend decades into the future.

But the advantages don’t end at public health. A well-designed tax system can generate additional domestic revenue, funding critical health priorities such as non-communicable disease prevention, universal health coverage, and healthcare infrastructure. The workshop highlighted that health and economic progress are not mutually exclusive—smart fiscal policy can advance both simultaneously.

Data-driven decisions: building effective tobacco control policies

Effective reforms require robust data. Participants analyzed tobacco consumption patterns, economic costs, health impacts, current tax structures, market dynamics, and international best practices. Dr. William Maina, Senior Project Officer at WHO Africa, underscored tobacco’s global death toll, linking it not only to cancer but also cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and chronic respiratory illnesses. Nicotine addiction, he noted, harms developing brains, fertility, and cardiovascular health.

The discussions dismantled common myths surrounding tobacco tax increases, such as fears of revenue loss, massive job cuts, or unchecked illicit trade. Experts stressed that when reforms are carefully designed and enforced, these concerns often prove unfounded. Public policy, they agreed, must be grounded in evidence—not perception.

The power of modeling: predicting reform impacts before implementation

A highlight of the workshop was the demonstration of WHO’s TaXSiM model, a tool designed to help governments forecast the health and fiscal outcomes of tax reforms before enacting them. Using Cameroon-specific data, several reform scenarios were simulated with striking clarity.

Two key measures were evaluated:

• Raising the minimum specific tax from 5,000 FCFA to 10,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes in 2027;
• Increasing it further to 15,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes in 2028, applied uniformly to both imported and locally produced products.

The results were compelling: cigarette sales would drop from 162.9 million packs in 2026 to 144.1 million in 2027, and 131.9 million in 2028—a cumulative reduction of nearly 19%. The number of smokers would decline from 810,000 to 744,000, preventing approximately 66,000 new smokers by 2028.

Excise revenue would surge from 15.2 billion FCFA to 28.8 billion in 2027, and 38.3 billion in 2028. Total tax revenue would rise from 32.6 billion FCFA to 57.3 billion, generating nearly 25 billion FCFA in additional public funds. These figures demonstrate that tobacco tax reform can simultaneously reduce consumption and strengthen national finances.

A sustainable funding source for health in challenging times

With international health funding declining, domestic revenue mobilization has become essential. The additional revenue generated through tobacco taxes could support:

• Universal health coverage;
• Programs for non-communicable disease prevention;
• Tobacco cessation services;
• Strengthening of health infrastructure;
• Health promotion activities.

Participants concluded that tobacco taxation is one of the few policies capable of improving public health, reducing future disease-related costs, and securing long-term financing for the health system.

Emerging nicotine threats: a growing challenge for 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 items use sophisticated marketing to target adolescents. A video demonstration of a teen using a vape hidden in a smartwatch left a strong impression on attendees.

WHO experts warned that these products are not harmless. They create addiction, expose users to toxic substances, and risk normalizing nicotine use among youth. Participants called for proactive regulatory and fiscal measures to prevent their widespread adoption in Cameroon’s market.

Roadmap for reform: evidence-based policy recommendations

At the conclusion of the three-day meeting, participants issued a series of actionable recommendations:

• Gradually increase the minimum specific tax to 15,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes;
• Apply tax increases uniformly to imported and locally produced tobacco products;
• Enhance regional dialogue within CEMAC on excise duties;
• Establish a national technical working group on tobacco taxation;
• Set up a permanent monitoring and evaluation system;
• Improve the availability of fiscal and trade data;
• Accelerate the establishment of a national tobacco control fund;
• Develop a national traceability system for tobacco products.

They also emphasized the need to intensify public awareness campaigns, particularly targeting youth, support tobacco farmers in transitioning to alternative crops, implement the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, and establish a national tobacco product traceability system.

Dr. Colette Taka Joro, Permanent Secretary of the National Committee for Drug Control, stressed the importance of high-level dialogues with government, parliamentarians, and stakeholders to accelerate reform adoption and ensure ownership.

Investing in health today for a stronger tomorrow

Closing the workshop, Dr. Hassan Ben Bachir, Director of Health Promotion at the Ministry of Public Health, framed the initiative’s broader significance: “Tobacco taxation is more than a revenue tool—it’s an investment in our people’s health. By shielding youth from smoking initiation and securing sustainable health financing, we are investing in Cameroon’s future.”

The gathering in Mbankomo concluded with a shared conviction: tobacco tax reform is not merely a fiscal matter—it is a prevention tool, a youth protection mechanism, a domestic resource mobilizer, and a long-term investment in human capital.

The evidence presented during the workshop proves that a more ambitious tobacco tax policy can reduce consumption, save lives, ease the burden of non-communicable diseases, and generate substantial revenue to fund national health priorities.

Every tax increase represents thousands of lives protected. Every evidence-based reform paves the way for a Cameroon where fewer young people start smoking, families are better shielded from tobacco’s harm, and the health system is equipped to meet the nation’s needs sustainably.

By positioning tobacco taxation as a strategic lever for public health and sustainable financing, Cameroon has the opportunity to build a healthier, more resilient future for generations to come.