Tobacco taxation: a strategic lever for public health and economic growth in Cameroon

Mbankomo — For three consecutive days, policymakers, health experts, and financial analysts gathered not to discuss hospital construction or drug procurement, but to deliberate on tax policy. Behind spreadsheets, percentage hikes, and fiscal simulations lay a single, overriding question: how can Cameroon save more lives while securing sustainable funding for its healthcare system?

The workshop, held in Mbankomo from July 22 to 24, brought together officials from the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Finance, Customs, parliamentarians, civil society representatives, and technical partners, all under the guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO). Their goal? To unlock the untapped potential of tobacco taxation as a dual engine for public health improvement and economic development.

Tobacco’s silent but deadly burden on Cameroon

The tobacco epidemic continues to cast a long shadow over Cameroon. With 9% of adults and over 10% of adolescents aged 13 to 15 smoking, the country faces a growing public health crisis. Worse still, 37% of the population is exposed to secondhand smoke. Each year, approximately 66,000 deaths are directly linked to tobacco use, while countless more suffer from tobacco-induced cancers, cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and chronic respiratory conditions.

Despite this devastating toll, cigarettes remain alarmingly affordable in Cameroon. In 2024, the most widely sold pack retailed at just $4.07 (PPP-adjusted), well below the African average of $5.06 and the global mean of $6.98. Shockingly, taxes accounted for only 36% of the retail price—far below the WHO’s recommended threshold of 75%. This under-taxation not only fails to deter consumption but also deprives the national budget of critical revenue.

Why higher tobacco taxes save lives—and money

Evidence shows that raising taxes on tobacco products is one of the most effective ways to curb smoking. Price sensitivity is particularly high among young people: when cigarettes become less affordable, fewer teens start smoking. A well-designed tax hike today can prevent future illnesses, disabilities, and deaths for decades to come.

But the benefits extend beyond health. Increased excise revenues can fund stronger health systems, programs for non-communicable disease prevention, and progress toward universal health coverage. Rather than opposing public health and economic growth, smart fiscal policy advances both simultaneously.

Data-driven decision-making: the key to effective reform

Before crafting policies, decision-makers need reliable data. The workshop analyzed Cameroon’s tobacco consumption patterns, economic costs, health impacts, current tax structures, market dynamics, and global best practices. Experts dismantled common myths—for instance, that higher taxes lead to job losses or a surge in illicit trade—stressing that properly designed reforms, paired with strong enforcement, can avoid such pitfalls.

The WHO’s TaXSiM model played a pivotal role, allowing participants to simulate the health and fiscal outcomes of different tax scenarios. Using Cameroon-specific data, two progressive tax increases were modeled:

• A hike in the specific minimum tax from 5,000 FCFA to 10,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes in 2027;
• An additional rise to 15,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes in 2028, applied uniformly to both imported and locally produced brands.

The results were striking. Cigarette sales were projected to 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 from 810,000 to 744,000, preventing an estimated 66,000 new smokers by 2028.

Meanwhile, excise revenues would surge from 15.2 billion FCFA in 2026 to 28.8 billion FCFA in 2027 and 38.3 billion FCFA in 2028. Total tax revenue would jump from 32.6 billion FCFA to 57.3 billion FCFA, generating nearly 25 billion FCFA in additional funds compared to the baseline scenario.

For participants, these figures proved that health protection and economic progress are not mutually exclusive—smart taxation does both.

Funding the future: how tobacco taxes can strengthen health systems

As international health funding dwindles, domestic revenue mobilization becomes ever more vital. The additional tax proceeds could support:

• Universal Health Coverage initiatives;
• Prevention programs for non-communicable diseases;
• Smoking cessation services;
• Upgrades to health infrastructure;
• Health promotion campaigns.

In short, tobacco taxation offers a rare opportunity to simultaneously improve population health, reduce future disease burdens, and secure sustainable financing for Cameroon’s health system.

A growing threat: the rise of nicotine products targeting youth

Participants also sounded the alarm over the rapid proliferation of novel nicotine products. Disguised as pens, smartwatches, lipsticks, toys, candies, or chewing gum, these items are aggressively marketed to young people through sophisticated tactics. A video demonstration of a teen using a vape hidden in a smartwatch left a strong impression—highlighting how these products normalize nicotine use and pose serious health risks.

The WHO emphasized that such products are not harmless. They create addiction, expose users to toxic substances, and risk entrenching nicotine dependence early in life. Recommendations included preemptive regulatory and fiscal measures to prevent their widespread adoption in Cameroon.

From evidence to action: a roadmap for reform

At the close of the workshop, a series of concrete recommendations emerged to guide Cameroon’s next steps:

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

Participants stressed that success requires collective action: stepped-up awareness campaigns—especially for youth—support for farmers transitioning to alternative crops, full implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, and robust national monitoring systems.

Dr. Colette Taka Joro, Permanent Secretary of the National Committee for Drug Control, underscored the need for high-level dialogue with government, parliament, and stakeholders to fast-track reform adoption and ensure ownership.

Investing in tomorrow: the promise of tobacco taxation

Closing the event, 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 raising revenue. It is 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 scientific evidence into public policy that benefits all.”

In Mbankomo, a shared conviction took root: tobacco taxation is far more than a budgetary tool. It is a prevention instrument, a shield for youth, a revenue generator, and a long-term investment in the nation’s human capital. The data speaks for itself—a more ambitious tobacco tax policy can reduce smoking, save lives, ease the burden of non-communicable diseases, and fund critical health priorities.

Every tax hike 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 consequences, and the health system is equipped to meet the population’s needs sustainably.

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