Mbankomo workshop explores taxation as a lifesaver
For three consecutive days in Mbankomo, a town on the outskirts of Yaoundé, policymakers, health officials, and economists gathered not to discuss hospital construction or drug procurement—but to focus on tax policy. Behind closed doors, they examined figures, percentages, and fiscal simulations, all with a single, overarching goal: how to save more lives and secure long-term funding for Cameroon’s health system.
The workshop, held from July 22 to 24, 2026, brought together officials from the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Finance, Customs, Members of Parliament, civil society representatives, and technical partners, all under the guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO). Their mission was to explore a powerful but often overlooked tool: tobacco taxation as a driver of public health and national development.
Tobacco: A preventable health crisis
Despite global progress in reducing smoking rates, tobacco remains a leading cause of preventable death in Cameroon. The latest data reveals sobering statistics: 9% of adults and over 10% of adolescents aged 13 to 15 smoke, while 37% of the population is exposed to secondhand smoke. Each year, approximately 66,000 Cameroonians die from tobacco-related diseases, including cancers, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and strokes.
Beyond the human toll, the economic burden is staggering. Households, healthcare systems, and the national economy all bear the cost of treating preventable illnesses. Yet, despite this crisis, cigarettes remain disturbingly affordable. In 2024, the retail price of the most popular cigarette pack stood at just $4.07 (PPP-adjusted), well below Africa’s average of $5.06 and the global average of $6.98. Worse still, tobacco taxes accounted for only 36% of the retail price—far short of the WHO’s recommended 75%.
Tax hikes: A lifeline for public health
At the opening of the workshop, national leaders emphasized a clear truth: raising taxes on tobacco products is one of the most effective ways to reduce consumption. Price sensitivity is especially high among young people. When cigarettes become less affordable, fewer adolescents start smoking—meaning fewer future cases of addiction, disease, and premature death.
The health benefits of tobacco taxation extend far into the future. A decision made today can prevent thousands of diseases and save lives for decades. But the advantages don’t end at health. A well-structured tax policy can also generate substantial revenue, funding essential health programs, disease prevention initiatives, and progress toward universal health coverage.
Data-driven decisions: The key to effective reform
Effective policy requires reliable data. During the workshop, participants analyzed tobacco consumption patterns in Cameroon, its economic cost, its link to non-communicable diseases, current tax structures, market dynamics, and global best practices.
Dr. William Maina, Senior Project Officer at WHO Africa, highlighted the broader dangers of tobacco. Beyond lung cancer, smoking contributes to heart disease, stroke, and chronic respiratory illnesses. Nicotine, the addictive compound in tobacco, harms brain development, fertility, and cardiovascular health—especially among young users.
Participants also addressed common misconceptions about tobacco tax increases, such as fears of job losses, smuggling surges, or revenue shortfalls. International evidence shows these concerns are unfounded when reforms are carefully designed and enforced with strong controls. The message was clear: public policy must follow evidence, not perception.
Tax simulations: A clear path forward
One of the most anticipated moments came when the WHO’s TaXSiM model was unveiled—a tool designed to help governments assess the health and fiscal impacts of tax reforms before implementation. Using Cameroon’s data, several scenarios were tested.
The results were unequivocal. Two progressive tax increases were modeled:
- A rise in the specific excise tax from 5,000 FCFA to 10,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes in 2027;
- A further increase to 15,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes in 2028, applied uniformly to both imported and locally produced products.
The projected outcomes were transformative. Cigarette sales were expected to drop from 162.9 million packs in 2026 to 144.1 million in 2027, and then to 131.9 million in 2028—a cumulative reduction of nearly 19%. The number of smokers would decline from 810,000 to 744,000 by 2028, saving approximately 66,000 lives.
At the same time, excise revenue would surge from 15.2 billion FCFA in 2027 to 28.8 billion FCFA in 2028, with total tax revenue rising from 32.6 billion FCFA to 57.3 billion FCFA—generating nearly 25 billion FCFA in additional funds compared to the baseline.
For experts, these findings dispelled any doubt: smart tobacco taxation can advance both public health and economic development simultaneously.
Funding health through tobacco taxes
In an era of declining international health funding, tobacco taxation offers Cameroon a strategic opportunity to bolster domestic revenue. The additional funds could support:
- Universal health coverage initiatives;
- Programs to prevent non-communicable diseases;
- Smoking cessation services;
- Upgrades to health infrastructure;
- Public health promotion campaigns.
Participants concluded that tobacco taxation is one of the few policies capable of improving population health, reducing long-term healthcare costs, and strengthening the financial sustainability of the health system—all at once.
New dangers: Nicotine products targeting youth
The workshop also sounded the alarm on rapidly growing nicotine products disguised as pens, smartwatches, lipsticks, toys, candies, and chewing gum. These products use sophisticated marketing to appeal to adolescents, making nicotine accessible and seemingly harmless.
A video demonstration of a teenager using a vape pen hidden in a smartwatch left a strong impression on attendees. WHO experts warned that these products are not safe. They create addiction, expose users to harmful substances, and risk normalizing nicotine use among the young.
Participants called for proactive regulation and taxation of these products before they become deeply embedded in the Cameroonian market.
Reform roadmap: Evidence, equity, and action
At the close of the three-day event, participants adopted a comprehensive set of recommendations:
- Gradually increase the specific excise tax to 15,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes;
- Apply tax measures uniformly to imported and locally produced tobacco products;
- Strengthen regional coordination on excise duties within CEMAC;
- Establish a national technical group on tobacco taxation;
- Create a permanent monitoring and evaluation system;
- Improve availability of fiscal and trade data;
- Accelerate the creation of a National Tobacco Control Fund;
- Develop a national tobacco product traceability system.
They also emphasized the need for intensified awareness campaigns targeting youth, support for tobacco farmers in transitioning to alternative crops, implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, and establishment of a national traceability system.
Dr. Colette Taka Joro, Permanent Secretary of the National Committee for Drug Control, stressed that high-level dialogue with government leaders, parliamentarians, and stakeholders is essential to accelerate 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, summarized the workshop’s spirit: “Tobacco taxation is more than a revenue tool—it’s an investment in people’s health. By protecting youth 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 science into policy that benefits everyone.”
The participants left Mbankomo with a shared conviction: tobacco taxation is not just a fiscal matter. It is a prevention instrument, a shield for youth, a source of national revenue, and a long-term investment in human capital. The data proves it: a bold tobacco tax policy can reduce consumption, save lives, ease the burden of non-communicable diseases, and fund critical health priorities—all at the same time.
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 has the resources it needs to serve all citizens—today and tomorrow.
