Tobacco tax reforms could save thousands of lives in Cameroon

Mbankomo workshop explores fiscal solutions to curb tobacco’s deadly impact

During a three-day intensive session in Mbankomo, health and fiscal experts shifted their focus from hospital construction to tax policy. The unusual gathering brought together officials from Cameroon’s health and finance ministries, customs authorities, parliamentarians, civil society representatives and technical partners under the guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO). Their shared objective? To explore how tobacco taxation could become a powerful tool for both public health and sustainable development.

Tobacco remains a silent killer with alarming statistics

The tobacco epidemic continues to exact a heavy toll on Cameroon’s population. With an adult smoking prevalence of 9% and over 10% among youth aged 13-15, the country faces significant health challenges. Approximately 66,000 annual deaths are directly linked to tobacco consumption, while 37% of the population is exposed to secondhand smoke. The economic and health burdens extend far beyond mortality, contributing to rising cases of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, strokes and chronic respiratory conditions.

Despite these alarming figures, cigarettes remain disturbingly affordable in Cameroon. In 2024, the most popular cigarette pack cost just $4.07 (PPP-adjusted), well below both the African average of $5.06 and the global mean of $6.98. Even more concerning, tobacco taxes accounted for only 36% of the retail price—far below the WHO’s recommended 75% threshold.

Pricing power: how tax increases can prevent future suffering

National leaders emphasized that raising tobacco taxes represents one of the most cost-effective interventions to reduce consumption. The evidence is clear: price sensitivity is particularly high among adolescents, making them more likely to forgo smoking when prices rise. Such fiscal measures don’t just save lives today—they prevent future generations from falling victim to tobacco-related diseases.

The discussions highlighted a crucial dual benefit: while reducing smoking rates, higher tobacco taxes can generate substantial additional revenue for Cameroon’s health system. These funds could be allocated to universal health coverage, non-communicable disease prevention programs, smoking cessation services and health infrastructure improvements.

Data-driven decision making for effective policy

Reliable data forms the foundation of sound policy. Workshop participants analyzed tobacco consumption patterns, economic costs, health impacts and current tax structures in Cameroon. They also examined global best practices and market dynamics to inform potential reforms.

Dr. William Maina, WHO Africa’s Senior Project Officer, reinforced the urgency: « Tobacco remains one of the world’s leading preventable causes of death, driving cardiovascular disease, strokes and chronic respiratory illnesses. The nicotine in tobacco products creates powerful addiction while harming brain development, fertility and cardiovascular health. »

The group systematically addressed common misconceptions about tobacco tax increases—particularly fears of reduced public revenue, massive job losses or uncontrollable illicit trade. International evidence consistently shows these concerns are unfounded when reforms are properly designed and accompanied by appropriate control measures. For participants, public policy must always be evidence-based rather than driven by perception.

Modeling reveals clear pathways to impact

One workshop highlight was the presentation of the WHO TaXSiM model, which simulates both health and fiscal outcomes of different tax reform scenarios. Using Cameroon-specific data, several reform options were tested with striking results.

Key proposals included:

• Increasing the minimum specific tax from 5,000 FCFA to 10,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes in 2027
• Further raising it to 15,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes in 2028

The projections 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%. Smoking prevalence would decline from 810,000 to 744,000 individuals, preventing approximately 66,000 Cameroonians from becoming smokers by 2028.

Tax revenue would surge dramatically: excise duties would rise from 15.2 billion FCFA in 2027 to 28.8 billion FCFA in 2027 and 38.3 billion FCFA in 2028. Total tax revenue would increase from 32.6 billion FCFA to 57.3 billion FCFA—generating nearly 25 billion FCFA in additional funds compared to the baseline scenario.

These figures demonstrate that health and economic objectives are not mutually exclusive. A well-designed tobacco tax policy can simultaneously reduce smoking and strengthen public finances.

Emerging threats: nicotine products targeting youth

The workshop also sounded a warning about rapidly growing nicotine product markets. Disguised as pens, smartwatches, lipsticks, toys or candy, these products use sophisticated marketing to appeal directly to adolescents.

A video demonstration showing a teenager using a hidden vaping device in a smartwatch left a lasting impression on attendees. WHO officials stressed that these products are far from harmless—they create addiction, expose users to toxic substances and risk normalizing nicotine use among young people.

Participants urgently recommended implementing regulatory and fiscal frameworks to prevent these products from gaining a foothold in Cameroon’s market before they become entrenched.

Roadmap for comprehensive tobacco control

As the workshop concluded, participants endorsed an ambitious set of recommendations to guide Cameroon’s tobacco control strategy:

• Gradually increase the minimum specific tax to 15,000 FCFA per 1,000 cigarettes
• Apply the same tax rate uniformly to both imported and locally manufactured products
• Strengthen regional coordination on excise duties within CEMAC
• Establish a national technical working group on tobacco taxation
• Implement a permanent monitoring and evaluation system
• Enhance availability of fiscal and commercial data
• Accelerate creation of a national tobacco control fund
• Develop a national tobacco product traceability system

Recognizing that successful tobacco control requires collective action, they also called for intensified youth awareness campaigns, support for tobacco farmers to transition 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 Cameroon’s National Anti-Drug Committee, emphasized that high-level dialogues with government, parliamentarians and all stakeholders would be essential to accelerate reform adoption and ensure broad ownership.

A vision for Cameroon’s future

Closing the workshop, Dr. Hassan Ben Bachir, Director of Health Promotion at Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health, framed the outcomes in a broader context: « Tobacco taxation is far more than a revenue mechanism—it’s an investment in people’s health. By protecting youth from starting to smoke and strengthening our health system’s financial sustainability, we’re investing in Cameroon’s future. The recommendations from this workshop provide a solid roadmap to translate scientific evidence into public policies that benefit everyone. »

The Mbankomo gathering left participants with a shared conviction: tobacco taxation is not merely a fiscal issue—it’s a prevention tool, a youth protection mechanism, a national resource mobilization strategy and a long-term investment in human capital.

The data presented throughout the workshop proves that ambitious tobacco tax policies can simultaneously reduce consumption, save lives, alleviate the burden of non-communicable diseases and generate substantial resources for national health priorities. Each tax increase represents thousands of protected lives. Each evidence-based reform moves Cameroon closer to a future where fewer youth start smoking, families are better shielded from tobacco’s consequences and the health system has the sustainable resources needed to serve all citizens.

By positioning tobacco taxation as a strategic lever for both public health and sustainable financing, Cameroon has the opportunity to make a lasting investment in the health of future generations.