Addis Ababa: Health minister unveils Cameroon’s pharmaceutical industry production ambitions.

This was during the first session of the High-Level Ministerial Dialogue organised on the sidelines of the 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa.

The minister used the high-level ministerial platform to outline the country’s ambitions for expanding local pharmaceutical production and strengthening the regulation of medicines, as the country seeks to reduce its dependence on imported health products.

The session brought together ministers and key stakeholders to discuss ways of strengthening regulatory systems and regional manufacturing of medical products. These were presented as essential pillars for improving health security, building resilient health systems and advancing Universal Health Coverage.

Speaking during the meeting, Dr Manaouda stressed on the growth of the country’s pharmaceutical manufacturing base since 2020. The minister noted that the number of local production units has increased from seven to 19, with 239 approved pharmaceutical references.

According to Dr Manaouda, despite this progress, he acknowledged that local manufacturing remains insufficient to meet national demand. He stated that products manufactured locally currently cover approximately 15 percent of the National List of Essential Medicines and less than five percent of overall consumption needs.

Dr Manaouda identified several factors slowing the expansion of the sector, including limited access to financing, unreliable or costly energy supplies, difficulties in obtaining raw materials, competition from imported medicines and delays in payments for public orders.

He noted that to address these constraints, government has introduced measures aimed at creating a more favourable environment for local manufacturers. He cited exemptions from certain duties and taxes on inputs and production equipment, alongside mechanisms giving preference to locally manufactured products in public procurement, provided they meet required standards of quality, safety, efficacy and competitiveness.

For the minister, strengthening public procurement represents another critical instrument for sustaining domestic production. Cameroon, he said is finalising its national strategy for the development of the pharmaceutical industry while exploring new public-private partnerships capable of attracting investment and technical expertise.

The minister also went further to explain that regulation also featured prominently among the challenges. Cameroon, he said intends to reinforce the capacities of its National Regulatory Authority and is examining the feasibility of establishing a dedicated Cameroonian Medicines Agency. Such an institution, he said could further strengthen oversight of pharmaceutical products and support a more efficient regulatory environment.

According to the Minister of Public Health, beyond domestic reforms, there is need for stronger regional cooperation. He argued that greater coordination among African countries could help build an integrated pharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem, expand markets for locally produced medicines and reduce the continent’s dependence on external suppliers.

Dr Manaouda insisted that stronger pharmaceutical regulation is a strategic tool for achieving greater health sovereignty, strengthening resilience to health emergencies and ensuring more sustainable access to essential medicines across Africa.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3891 of Thursday August 27, 2026