Mbankomo workshop explores fiscal solutions to reduce tobacco harm
Mbankomo — Over three intensive days, policymakers, health officials, and civil society representatives gathered not to discuss hospital construction or drug procurement, but to examine tax structures. The focus? Leveraging tobacco taxation as a cornerstone for both public health advancement and sustainable healthcare financing in Cameroon.
The July 2026 workshop, supported by global health authorities, brought together officials from the ministries of Public Health and Finance, customs agencies, parliamentarians, and civil society actors. Their shared goal: to reposition tobacco tax policy as a dual-purpose tool—curbing consumption while fortifying national health systems.
Tobacco’s devastating toll on Cameroon’s health and economy
Tobacco remains one of the most preventable causes of death worldwide, and Cameroon bears a significant burden. Adult smoking prevalence stands at 9%, while over 10% of adolescents aged 13–15 smoke. Alarmingly, 37% of the population is exposed to secondhand smoke, and tobacco-related diseases claim approximately 66,000 lives annually in the country.
The health consequences extend far beyond mortality. Tobacco use drives rising rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease, strokes, and chronic respiratory disorders. It also places a heavy financial strain on households, overburdens healthcare services, and weakens economic productivity. Despite this crisis, cigarettes remain disturbingly affordable in Cameroon. As of 2024, the retail price of the most popular cigarette pack was just $4.07 (PPP-adjusted), below both the African average ($5.06) and global average ($6.98). Shockingly, excise taxes accounted for only 36% of the retail price—far below the WHO’s recommended 75% threshold.
Why higher tobacco taxes save lives—and money
Increased tobacco taxes are among the most effective public health interventions globally. Price sensitivity is especially high among youth, making higher taxes a critical deterrent against initiation. A fiscal decision made today can prevent decades of future disease, disability, and death.
But the benefits go beyond health. Well-designed tax policies generate substantial public revenue that can be reinvested in preventive care, universal health coverage, and strengthening health infrastructure. The workshop underscored that health and economic progress are not mutually exclusive—smart fiscal policy can advance both simultaneously.
Data-driven policy design: the WHO TaXSiM model in action
Central to the workshop was the WHO’s TaXSiM modeling tool, which simulates the health and fiscal impacts of different tax reform scenarios. Using Cameroon-specific data, participants evaluated multiple policy options.
Two key reforms were modeled:
- Raising the specific excise 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, applying uniformly to both imported and locally produced brands.
The results were striking. 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 decline of nearly 19%. The number of smokers would fall by 810,000 to 744,000, preventing approximately 66,000 new smokers by 2028.
Excise revenues would surge from 15.2 billion FCFA in 2027 to 28.8 billion FCFA, with total tax revenues rising from 32.6 billion to 57.3 billion FCFA—generating nearly 25 billion FCFA in additional public funds compared to the baseline scenario.
Financing health through tobacco reform
With international health funding declining, domestic revenue mobilization has never been more vital. The projected gains from tobacco taxation could directly support:
- Universal health coverage initiatives;
- Non-communicable disease prevention programs;
- Tobacco cessation support services;
- Health infrastructure upgrades;
- Comprehensive public health campaigns.
Participants emphasized that tobacco tax reform offers one of the few policy pathways capable of simultaneously improving population health, reducing future healthcare costs, and strengthening national fiscal resilience.
New nicotine threats target Cameroon’s youth
The workshop also sounded an urgent alarm about the rapid rise of novel nicotine products. Disguised as pens, smartwatches, lipsticks, toys, candies, or chewing gums, these items—often marketed with sophisticated strategies—are increasingly appealing to adolescents.
A demonstration video showing a teen using a vape hidden in a smartwatch left a strong impression. Health experts cautioned that these products are not harmless. They foster nicotine addiction, expose users to toxic substances, and risk normalizing nicotine use among young people.
To prevent an impending public health crisis, participants recommended proactive regulatory and fiscal measures to control these emerging products before they gain a firm foothold in Cameroon’s market.
Eight key reforms proposed to transform tobacco policy
At the workshop’s conclusion, a comprehensive set of recommendations was adopted to guide Cameroon’s tobacco control strategy:
- Gradually increase the specific excise tax to 15,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes by 2028;
- Apply the tax uniformly to imported and domestically produced products;
- Strengthen regional tax coordination within the CEMAC zone;
- Establish a national tobacco tax technical working group;
- Develop a permanent monitoring and evaluation system;
- Improve availability and transparency of fiscal and trade data;
- Accelerate the creation of a national tobacco control fund;
- Implement a national tobacco product traceability system.
Additionally, delegates called for intensified 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 robust national traceability system.
From evidence to action: building a healthier future
Dr. Colette Taka Joro, Permanent Secretary of the National Committee for Drug Control, stressed the need for high-level dialogue with government and parliamentarians to accelerate reform adoption and ensure broad stakeholder ownership.
Dr. Hassan Ben Bachir, Director of Health Promotion at the Ministry of Public Health, closed the workshop with a powerful message: “Tobacco taxation is not just about revenue. It’s an investment in the health of our people. By protecting youth from starting to smoke and securing sustainable funding for our health system, we are investing in Cameroon’s future.”
The consensus among participants was clear: tobacco tax reform is far more than a budgetary measure. It is a prevention tool, a youth protection mechanism, a domestic resource mobilizer, and a long-term investment in the nation’s human capital.
The data presented during the workshop demonstrates that a bold, evidence-based tobacco tax policy can simultaneously 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 data-driven reform shapes 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 all citizens—today and for generations to come.
